Triazole macrocycle systems

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides novel peptidomimetic macrocycles and methods for their preparation and use, as well as amino acid analogs and macrocycle-forming linkers, and kits useful in their production.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 14/677,679 filed Apr. 2, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/370,057 filed Feb. 9, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,023,988, which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/097,930 filed Apr. 29, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,637,686, which is a divisional of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 12/037,041, filed Feb. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,999, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/903,073, filed Feb. 23, 2007, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Mar. 15, 2017, is named 35224707303_2.txt and is 35,509 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Peptides are becoming increasingly important in pharmaceutical applications. Unmodified peptides often suffer from poor metabolic stability, poor cell penetrability, and promiscuous binding due to conformational flexibility. To improve these properties, researchers have generated cyclic peptides and peptidomimetics by a variety of methods, including disulfide bond formation, amide bond formation, and carbon-carbon bond formation (Jackson et al. (1991), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113:9391-9392; Phelan et al. (1997), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119:455-460; Taylor (2002), Biopolymers 66: 49-75; Brunel et al. (2005), Chem. Commun. (20):2552-2554; Hiroshige et al. (1995), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117: 11590-11591; Blackwell et al. (1998), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 37:3281-3284; Schafmeister et al. (2000), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122:5891-5892). Limitations of these methods include poor metabolic stability (disulfide and amide bonds), poor cell penetrability (disulfide and amide bonds), and the use of potentially toxic metals (for carbon-carbon bond formation). Thus, there is a significant need for improved methods to produce peptides or peptidomimetics that possess increased conformational rigidity, metabolic stability and cell penetrability. The present invention addresses these and other needs in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein are peptidomimetic macrocycles of Formula I, wherein:

each A, C, D, and E is independently a natural or non-natural amino acid;

B is a natural or non-natural amino acid, amino acid analog,

[—NH-L₃-CO—], [—NH-L₃-SO₂—], or [—NH-L₃-];

R₁ and R₂ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-;

R₃ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅;

L is a macrocycle-forming linker of the formula

L₁, L₂ and L₃ are independently alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, cycloarylene, heterocycloarylene, or [—R₄—K—R₄—]_(n), each being optionally substituted with R₅;

each R₄ is alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene;

each K is O, S, SO, SO₂, CO, CO₂, or CONR₃;

each R₅ is independently halogen, alkyl, —OR₆, —N(R₆)₂, —SR₆, —SOR₆, —SO₂R₆, —CO₂R₆, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

each R₆ is independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

R₇ is —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅, or part of a cyclic structure with a D residue;

R₈ is —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅, or part of a cyclic structure with an E residue;

v is an integer from 1-1000;

w is an integer from 1-1000;

x is an integer from 0-10;

y is an integer from 0-10;

z is an integer from 0-10; and

n is an integer from 1-5.

In some embodiments, L is

In other embodiments, L is

In further embodiments, at least one of R₁ and R₂ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In related embodiments, R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. For example, at least one of R₁ and R₂ may be alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In some embodiments, both R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In other embodiments, at least one of R₁ and R₂ is methyl. In still other embodiments, both R₁ and R₂ are methyl.

In some embodiments, at least one of D and E is a natural or unnatural amino acid substituted with a high molecular weight lipid or hydrocarbon. In other embodiments, at least one of D and E is attached to an additional macrocycle-forming linker. In still other embodiments, a secondary structure of the peptidomimetic macrocycle is more stable than a corresponding secondary structure of a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle comprises an α-helix. The α-helix may comprise, for example, from 1 turn to 5 turns. In other embodiments, the α-helix is more stable than an α-helix of a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. The macrocycle-forming linker may span, for example, from 1 turn to 5 turns of the α-helix, such as approximately 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 turns of the α-helix. The length of the macrocycle-forming linker may be, for example, about 5 Å to about 9 Å per turn of the α-helix. In some embodiments, the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 1 turn of the α-helix. In such embodiments, the length of the macrocycle-forming linker may be approximately equal to the length of from about 6 carbon-carbon bonds to about 14 carbon-carbon bonds, or may be equal to the length of from about 8 carbon-carbon bonds to about 12 carbon-carbon bonds. In related embodiments, the the macrocycle may comprise a ring of about 18 atoms to 26 atoms.

In other embodiments, the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 2 turns of the α-helix. In some embodiments, the length of the macrocycle-forming linker may be approximately equal to the length of from about 8 carbon-carbon bonds to about 16 carbon-carbon bonds, or may be approximately equal to the length of from about 10 carbon-carbon bonds to about 13 carbon-carbon bonds. In related embodiments, the macrocycle may comprise a ring of about 29 atoms to about 37 atoms.

In some embodiments, an amino acid useful in the synthesis of the peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention is a compound of Formula IIa or IIb:

wherein

R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-;

each Q and T is independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene and [—R₄—K—R₄—], each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with R₅;

K is O, S, SO, SO₂, CO, CO₂, or CONR₃;

R₃ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅;

R₄ is alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene;

each R₅ is independently halogen, alkyl, —OR₆, —N(R₆)₂, —SR₆, —SO₂R₆, —CO₂R₆, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

each R₆ is independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

R₇ and R₈ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkylalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl;

R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently —H or any protecting group suitable for peptide synthesis;

g and h are each independently an integer from 0 to 5, wherein g+h is greater than 1; and

n is an integer from 1 to 5.

In some embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIa and R₁ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In other embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIIb and R₂ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In yet other embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIa and R₁ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₁ may be methyl. In still other embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIb and R₂ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₂ may be methyl. In some embodiments of the compounds of the invention, at least one of R₉ and R₁₀ is a protected group suitable for peptide synthesis. In another aspect, the present invention further provides kits comprising compounds of the invention or other amino acid analogs useful in the preparation of the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention along with macrocyclization reagents as described herein.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a kit comprising:

a) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of Formulas IIa and IIb:

wherein

R₁ and R₂ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-;

each Q and T is independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene and [—R₄—K—R₄—]_(n), each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with R₅;

K is O, S, SO, SO₂, CO, CO₂, or CONR₃;

R₃ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅;

R₄ is alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene;

each R₅ is independently halogen, alkyl, —OR₆, —N(R₆)₂, —SR₆, —SOR₆, —SO₂R₆, —CO₂R₆, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

each R₆ is independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

R₇ and R₈ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkylalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl;

R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently —H or any protecting group suitable for peptide synthesis;

g and h are each independently an integer from 0 to 5;

n is an integer from 1 to 5; and

b) a macrocyclization reagent.

In some embodiments, the kit comprises a compound of Formula IIa and R₁ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In related embodiments, R₁ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₁ may be methyl. In other embodiments, the kit comprises a compound of Formula IIb and R₂ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In related embodiments, R₂ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₂ may be methyl.

In some embodiments, a kit comprises at least one compound of Formula IIa and at least one compound of Formula IIb. A kit of the invention may also comprise a compound of Formula IIa or Formula IIb wherein at least one of R₉ and R₁₀ is a protected group suitable for peptide synthesis. In specific embodiments of the kit of the invention, the macrocyclization reagent is a Cu reagent. In yet other embodiments of the kit of the invention, the macrocyclization reagent is a Ru reagent.

The present invention also provides a method for synthesizing a peptidomimetic macrocycle, the method comprising the steps of contacting a peptidomimetic precursor of Formula III or Formula IV:

with a macrocyclization reagent;

wherein v, w, x, y, z, A, B, C, D, E, R₁, R₂, R₇, R₈, L₁ and L₂ are as defined above; R₁₂ is —H when the macrocyclization reagent is a Cu reagent and R₁₂ is —H or alkyl when the macrocyclization reagent is a Ru reagent; and further wherein said contacting step results in a covalent linkage being formed between the alkyne and azide moiety in Formula III or Formula IV. For example, R₁₂ may be methyl when the macrocyclization reagent is a Ru reagent.

In some embodiments of the method of the invention, at least one of R₁ and R₂ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In related embodiments, R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-.

For instance, at least one of R₁ and R₂ may be alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In another example, both R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In some embodiments, at least one of R₁ and R₂ is methyl. In other embodiments, R₁ and R₂ are methyl. The macrocyclization reagent may be a Cu reagent. Alternatively, the macrocyclization reagent may be a Ru reagent.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic precursor is purified prior to the contacting step. In other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle is purified after the contacting step. In still other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle is refolded after the contacting step. The method may be performed in solution, or, alternatively, the method may be performed on a solid support.

Also envisioned herein is performing the method of the invention in the presence of a target macromolecule that binds to the peptidomimetic precursor or peptidomimetic macrocycle under conditions that favor said binding. In some embodiments, the method is performed in the presence of a target macromolecule that binds preferentially to the peptidomimetic precursor or peptidomimetic macrocycle under conditions that favor said binding. The method may also be applied to synthesize a library of peptidomimetic macrocycles.

The peptidomimetic macrocycle resulting from a method of the invention may comprise an α-helix in aqueous solution. For example, the peptidomimetic macrocycle may exhibit increased α-helical structure in aqueous solution compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased thermal stability compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased biological activity compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In still other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased resistance to proteolytic degradation compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In yet other embodiments, the the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased ability to penetrate living cells compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide.

In some embodiments, the alkyne moiety of the peptidomimetic precursor of Formula III or Formula IV is a sidechain of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-propargylglycine, D-propargylglycine, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid and the azide moiety of the peptidomimetic precursor of Formula III or Formula IV is a sidechain of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of ε-azido-L-lysine, ε-azido-D-lysine, ε-azido-alpha-methyl-L-lysine, ε-azido-alpha-methyl-D-lysine, δ-azido-alpha-methyl-L-ornithine, and δ-azido-alpha-methyl-D-ornithine.

In some embodiments, x+y+z is 3, and and A, B and C are independently natural or non-natural amino acids. In other embodiments, x+y+z is 6, and and A, B and C are independently natural or non-natural amino acids. In some embodiments, the macrocyclization reagent is a Cu reagent and the contacting step is performed in a solvent selected from the group consisting of protic solvent, aqueous solvent, organic solvent, and mixtures thereof. For example, the solvent may be chosen from the group consisting of H₂O, THF/H₂O, tBuOH/H₂O, DMF, DIPEA, CH₃CN, CH₂Cl₂, ClCH₂CH₂Cl or a mixture thereof. In other embodiments, the macrocyclization reagent is a Ru reagent and the contacting step is performed in an organic solvent. For example, the solvent may be DMF, THF, CH₃CN, CH₂Cl₂ or ClCH₂CH₂Cl. The solvent may be a solvent which favors helix formation.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle resulting from performing the method of the invention has the Formula (I):

wherein v, w, x, y, z, A, B, C, D, E, R₁, R₂, R₇, R₈, and L are as defined above.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

As used herein, the term “macrocycle” refers to a molecule having a chemical structure including a ring or cycle formed by at least 9 covalently bonded atoms.

As used herein, the term “peptidomimetic macrocycle” refers to a compound comprising a plurality of amino acid residues joined by a plurality of peptide bonds and at least one macrocycle-forming linker which forms a macrocycle between the α carbon of one naturally-occurring amino acid residue or non-naturally-occurring amino acid residue or amino acid analog residue and the α carbon of another naturally-occurring amino acid residue or non-naturally-occurring amino acid residue or amino acid analog residue. The peptidomimetic macrocycles optionally include one or more non-peptide bonds between one or more amino acid residues and/or amino acid analog residues, and optionally include one or more non-naturally-occurring amino acid residues or amino acid analog residues in addition to any which form the macrocycle.

As used herein, the term “stability” refers to the maintenance of a defined secondary structure in solution by a peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention as measured by circular dichroism, NMR or another biophysical measure, or resistance to proteolytic degradation in vitro or in vivo. Non-limiting examples of secondary structures contemplated in this invention are α-helices, β-turns, and β-pleated sheets.

As used herein, the term “helical stability” refers to the maintenance of α helical structure by a peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention as measured by circular dichroism. For example, in some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention exhibit at least a 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 or 2-fold increase in α-helicity as determined by circular dichroism compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide.

The term “α-amino acid” or simply “amino acid” refers to a molecule containing both an amino group and a carboxyl group bound to a carbon which is designated the α-carbon. Suitable amino acids include, without limitation, both the D- and L-isomers of the naturally-occurring amino acids, as well as non-naturally occurring amino acids prepared by organic synthesis or other metabolic routes. Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the term amino acid, as used herein, is intended to include amino acid analogs.

The term “naturally occurring amino acid” refers to any one of the twenty amino acids commonly found in peptides synthesized in nature, and known by the one letter abbreviations A, R, N, C, D, Q, E, G, H, I, L, K, M, F, P, S, T, W, Y and V.

The term “amino acid analog” refers to a molecule which is structurally similar to an amino acid and which can be substituted for an amino acid in the formation of a peptidomimetic macrocycle. Amino acid analogs include, without limitation, compounds which are structurally identical to an amino acid, as defined herein, except for the inclusion of one or more additional methylene groups between the amino and carboxyl group (e.g., α-amino β-carboxy acids), or for the substitution of the amino or carboxy group by a similarly reactive group (e.g., substitution of the primary amine with a secondary or tertiary amine, or substitution or the carboxy group with an ester).

A “non-essential” amino acid residue is a residue that can be altered from the wild-type sequence of a polypeptide (e.g., a BH3 domain or the p53 MDM2 binding domain) without abolishing or substantially altering its essential biological or biochemical activity (e.g., receptor binding or activation). An “essential” amino acid residue is a residue that, when altered from the wild-type sequence of the polypeptide, results in abolishing or substantially abolishing the polypeptide's essential biological or biochemical activity.

A “conservative amino acid substitution” is one in which the amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a similar side chain. Families of amino acid residues having similar side chains have been defined in the art. These families include amino acids with basic side chains (e.g., K, R, H), acidic side chains (e.g., D, E), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., G, N, Q, S, T, Y, C), nonpolar side chains (e.g., A, V, L, I, P, F, M, W), beta-branched side chains (e.g., T, V, I) and aromatic side chains (e.g., Y, F, W, H). Thus, a predicted nonessential amino acid residue in a BH3 polypeptide, for example, is preferably replaced with another amino acid residue from the same side chain family.

The term “member” as used herein in conjunction with macrocycles or macrocycle-forming linkers refers to the atoms that form or can form the macrocycle, and excludes substituent or side chain atoms. By analogy, cyclodecane, 1,2-difluoro-decane and 1,3-dimethyl cyclodecane are all considered ten-membered macrocycles as the hydrogen or fluoro substituents or methyl side chains do not participate in forming the macrocycle.

The symbol “

” when used as part of a molecular structure refers to a single bond or a trans or cis double bond.

The term “amino acid side chain” refers to a moiety attached to the α-carbon in an amino acid. For example, the amino acid side chain for alanine is methyl, the amino acid side chain for phenylalanine is phenylmethyl, the amino acid side chain for cysteine is thiomethyl, the amino acid side chain for aspartate is carboxymethyl, the amino acid side chain for tyrosine is 4-hydroxyphenylmethyl, etc. Other non-naturally occurring amino acid side chains are also included, for example, those that occur in nature (e.g., an amino acid metabolite) or those that are made synthetically (e.g., an α,α di-substituted amino acid).

The term “polypeptide” encompasses two or more naturally or non-naturally-occurring amino acids joined by a covalent bond (e.g., an amide bond). Polypeptides as described herein include full length proteins (e.g., fully processed proteins) as well as shorter amino acid sequences (e.g., fragments of naturally-occurring proteins or synthetic polypeptide fragments).

The term “macrocyclization reagent” as used herein refers to any reagent which may be used to prepare a peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention by mediating the reaction between an azide and alkyne. Such reagents include, without limitation, Cu reagents such as reagents which provide a reactive Cu(I) species, such as CuBr, CuI or CuOTf, as well as Cu(II) salts such as Cu(CO₂CH₃)₂, CuSO₄, and CuCl₂ that can be converted in situ to an active Cu(I) reagent by the addition of a reducing agent such as ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate. Macrocyclization reagents additionally include, for example, Ru reagents known in the art such as Cp*RuCl(PPh₃)₂, [Cp*RuCl]₄ or other Ru reagents which may provide a reactive Ru(II) species.

The term “halo” or “halogen” refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine or a radical thereof.

The term “alkyl” refers to a hydrocarbon chain that is a straight chain or branched chain, containing the indicated number of carbon atoms. For example, C₁-C₁₀ indicates that the group has from 1 to 10 (inclusive) carbon atoms in it. In the absence of any numerical designation, “alkyl” is a chain (straight or branched) having 1 to 20 (inclusive) carbon atoms in it.

The term “alkylene” refers to a divalent alkyl (i.e., —R—).

The term “alkenyl” refers to a hydrocarbon chain that is a straight chain or branched chain having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. The alkenyl moiety contains the indicated number of carbon atoms. For example, C₂-C₁₀ indicates that the group has from 2 to 10 (inclusive) carbon atoms in it. The term “lower alkenyl” refers to a C₂-C₆ alkenyl chain. In the absence of any numerical designation, “alkenyl” is a chain (straight or branched) having 2 to 20 (inclusive) carbon atoms in it.

The term “alkynyl” refers to a hydrocarbon chain that is a straight chain or branched chain having one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. The alkynyl moiety contains the indicated number of carbon atoms. For example, C₂-C₁₀ indicates that the group has from 2 to 10 (inclusive) carbon atoms in it. The term “lower alkynyl” refers to a C₂-C₆ alkynyl chain. In the absence of any numerical designation, “alkynyl” is a chain (straight or branched) having 2 to 20 (inclusive) carbon atoms in it.

The term “aryl” refers to a 6-carbon monocyclic or 10-carbon bicyclic aromatic ring system wherein 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 atoms of each ring are substituted by a substituent. Examples of aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl and the like. The term “arylalkyl” or the term “aralkyl” refers to alkyl substituted with an aryl. The term “arylalkoxy” refers to an alkoxy substituted with aryl.

“Arylalkyl” refers to an aryl group, as defined above, wherein one of the aryl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a C₁-C₅ alkyl group, as defined above. Representative examples of an arylalkyl group include, but are not limited to, 2-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl, 3-ethylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 2-propylphenyl, 3-propylphenyl, 4-propylphenyl, 2-butylphenyl, 3-butylphenyl, 4-butylphenyl, 2-pentylphenyl, 3-pentylphenyl, 4-pentylphenyl, 2-isopropylphenyl, 3-isopropylphenyl, 4-isopropylphenyl, 2-isobutylphenyl, 3-isobutylphenyl, 4-isobutylphenyl, 2-sec-butylphenyl, 3-sec-butylphenyl, 4-sec-butylphenyl, 2-t-butylphenyl, 3-t-butylphenyl and 4-t-butylphenyl.

“Arylamido” refers to an aryl group, as defined above, wherein one of the aryl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with one or more —C(O)NH₂ groups. Representative examples of an arylamido group include 2-C(O)NH2-phenyl, 3-C(O)NH₂-phenyl, 4-C(O)NH₂-phenyl, 2-C(O)NH₂-pyridyl, 3-C(O)NH₂-pyridyl, and 4-C(O)NH₂-pyridyl,

“Alkylheterocycle” refers to a C₁-C₅ alkyl group, as defined above, wherein one of the C₁-C₅ alkyl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a heterocycle. Representative examples of an alkylheterocycle group include, but are not limited to, —CH₂CH₂-morpholine, —CH₂CH₂-piperidine, —CH₂CH₂CH₂-morpholine, and —CH₂CH₂CH₂-imidazole.

“Alkylamido” refers to a C₁-C₅ alkyl group, as defined above, wherein one of the C₁-C₅ alkyl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a —C(O)NH₂ group. Representative examples of an alkylamido group include, but are not limited to, —CH₂—C(O)NH₂, —CH₂CH₂—C(O)NH₂, —CH₂CH₂CH₂C(O)NH₂, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂C(O)NH₂, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂C(O)NH₂, —CH₂CH(C(O)NH₂)CH₃, —CH₂CH(C(O)NH₂)CH₂CH₃, —CH(C(O)NH₂)CH₂CH₃ and —C(CH₃)₂CH₂C(O)NH₂.

“Alkanol” refers to a C₁-C₅ alkyl group, as defined above, wherein one of the C₁-C₅ alkyl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a hydroxyl group. Representative examples of an alkanol group include, but are not limited to, —CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CH(OH)CH₃, —CH₂CH(OH)CH₂CH₃, —CH(OH)CH₃ and —C(CH₃)₂CH₂OH.

“Alkylcarboxy” refers to a C₁-C₅ alkyl group, as defined above, wherein one of the C₁-C₅ alkyl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a —COOH group. Representative examples of an alkylcarboxy group include, but are not limited to, —CH₂COOH, —CH₂CH₂COOH, —CH₂CH₂CH₂COOH, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂COOH, —CH₂CH(COOH)CH₃, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂COOH, —CH₂CH(COOH)CH₂CH₃, —CH(COOH)CH₂CH₃ and —C(CH₃)₂CH₂COOH.

The term “cycloalkyl” as employed herein includes saturated and partially unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon groups having 3 to 12 carbons, preferably 3 to 8 carbons, and more preferably 3 to 6 carbons, wherein the cycloalkyl group additionally is optionally substituted. Some cycloalkyl groups include, without limitation, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl.

The term “heteroaryl” refers to an aromatic 5-8 membered monocyclic, 8-12 membered bicyclic, or 11-14 membered tricyclic ring system having 1-3 heteroatoms if monocyclic, 1-6 heteroatoms if bicyclic, or 1-9 heteroatoms if tricyclic, said heteroatoms selected from O, N, or S (e.g., carbon atoms and 1-3, 1-6, or 1-9 heteroatoms of O, N, or S if monocyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic, respectively), wherein 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 atoms of each ring are substituted by a substituent. Examples of heteroaryl groups include pyridyl, furyl or furanyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, pyrimidinyl, thiophenyl or thienyl, quinolinyl, indolyl, thiazolyl, and the like.

The term “heteroarylalkyl” or the term “heteroaralkyl” refers to an alkyl substituted with a heteroaryl. The term “heteroarylalkoxy” refers to an alkoxy substituted with heteroaryl.

The term “heteroarylalkyl” or the term “heteroaralkyl” refers to an alkyl substituted with a heteroaryl. The term “heteroarylalkoxy” refers to an alkoxy substituted with heteroaryl.

The term “heterocyclyl” refers to a nonaromatic 5-8 membered monocyclic, 8-12 membered bicyclic, or 11-14 membered tricyclic ring system having 1-3 heteroatoms if monocyclic, 1-6 heteroatoms if bicyclic, or 1-9 heteroatoms if tricyclic, said heteroatoms selected from O, N, or S (e.g., carbon atoms and 1-3, 1-6, or 1-9 heteroatoms of O, N, or S if monocyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic, respectively), wherein 0, 1, 2 or 3 atoms of each ring are substituted by a substituent. Examples of heterocyclyl groups include piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, dioxanyl, morpholinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, and the like.

The term “substituents” refers to a group “substituted” on an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl group at any atom of that group. Suitable substituents include, without limitation, halo, hydroxy, mercapto, oxo, nitro, haloalkyl, alkyl, alkaryl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, aryloxy, amino, alkoxycarbonyl, amido, carboxy, alkanesulfonyl, alkylcarbonyl, and cyano groups.

In some embodiments, the compounds of this invention contain one or more asymmetric centers and thus occur as racemates and racemic mixtures, single enantiomers, individual diastereomers and diastereomeric mixtures. All such isomeric forms of these compounds are included in the present invention unless expressly provided otherwise. In some embodiments, the compounds of this invention are also represented in multiple tautomeric forms, in such instances, the invention includes all tautomeric forms of the compounds described herein (e.g., if alkylation of a ring system results in alkylation at multiple sites, the invention includes all such reaction products). All such isomeric forms of such compounds are included in the present invention unless expressly provided otherwise. All crystal forms of the compounds described herein are included in the present invention unless expressly provided otherwise.

As used herein, the terms “increase” and “decrease” mean, respectively, to cause a statistically significantly (i.e., p<0.1) increase or decrease of at least 5%.

As used herein, the recitation of a numerical range for a variable is intended to convey that the invention may be practiced with the variable equal to any of the values within that range. Thus, for a variable which is inherently discrete, the variable is equal to any integer value within the numerical range, including the end-points of the range. Similarly, for a variable which is inherently continuous, the variable is equal to any real value within the numerical range, including the end-points of the range. As an example, and without limitation, a variable which is described as having values between 0 and 2 takes the values 0, 1 or 2 if the variable is inherently discrete, and takes the values 0.0, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, or any other real values ≥0 and ≤2 if the variable is inherently continuous.

As used herein, unless specifically indicated otherwise, the word “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or” and not the exclusive sense of “either/or.”

The details of one or more particular embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Peptidomimetic Macrocycles of the Invention

The present invention provides a peptidomimetic macrocycle of Formula (I):

wherein:

each A, C, D, and E is independently a natural or non-natural amino acid;

B is a natural or non-natural amino acid, amino acid analog,

[—NH-L₃-CO—], [—NH-L₃-SO₂—], or [—NH-L₃-];

R₁ and R₂ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-;

R₃ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅;

L is a macrocycle-forming linker of the formula

L₁, L₂ and L₃ are independently alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, cycloarylene, heterocycloarylene, or [—R₄—K—R₄—]_(n), each being optionally substituted with R₅;

each R₄ is alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene;

each K is O, S, SO, SO₂, CO, CO₂, or CONR₃;

each R₅ is independently halogen, alkyl, —OR₆, —N(R₆)₂, —SR₆, —SOR₆, —SO₂R₆, —CO₂R₆, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

each R₆ is independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

R₇ is —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅, or part of a cyclic structure with a D residue;

R₈ is —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅, or part of a cyclic structure with an E residue;

v is an integer from 1-1000;

w is an integer from 1-1000;

x is an integer from 0-10;

y is an integer from 0-10;

z is an integer from 0-10; and

n is an integer from 1-5.

In some embodiments of the invention, x+y+z is at least 3. In other embodiments of the invention, x+y+z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Each occurrence of A, B, C, D or E in a macrocycle or macrocycle precursor of the invention is independently selected. For example, a sequence represented by the formula [A]_(x), when x is 3, encompasses embodiments where the amino acids are not identical, e.g. Gln-Asp-Ala as well as embodiments where the amino acids are identical, e.g. Gln-Gln-Gln. This applies for any value of x, y, or z in the indicated ranges.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention comprises a secondary structure which is an α-helix and R₈ is —H, allowing intrahelical hydrogen bonding.

In other embodiments, the length of the macrocycle-forming linker L as measured from a first Cα to a second Cα is selected to stabilize a desired secondary peptide structure, such as an α-helix formed by residues of the peptidomimetic macrocycle including, but not necessarily limited to, those between the first Cα to a second Cα.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle comprises at least one α-helix motif. For example, A, B and/or C in the compound of Formula I include one or more α-helices. As a general matter, α-helices include between 3 and 4 amino acid residues per turn. In some embodiments, the α-helix of the peptidomimetic macrocycle includes 1 to 5 turns and, therefore, 3 to 20 amino acid residues. In specific embodiments, the α-helix includes 1 turn, 2 turns, 3 turns, 4 turns, or 5 turns. In some embodiments, the macrocycle-forming linker stabilizes an α-helix motif included within the peptidomimetic macrocycle. Thus, in some embodiments, the length of the macrocycle-forming linker L from a first Cα to a second Cα is selected to increase the stability of an α-helix. In some embodiments, the macrocycle-forming linker spans from 1 turn to 5 turns of the α-helix. In some embodiments, the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 1 turn, 2 turns, 3 turns, 4 turns, or 5 turns of the α-helix. In some embodiments, the length of the macrocycle-forming linker is approximately 5 Å to 9 Å per turn of the α-helix, or approximately 6 Å to 8 Å per turn of the α-helix. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 1 turn of an α-helix, the length is equal to approximately 5 carbon-carbon bonds to 13 carbon-carbon bonds, approximately 7 carbon-carbon bonds to 11 carbon-carbon bonds, or approximately 9 carbon-carbon bonds. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 2 turns of an α-helix, the length is equal to approximately 8 carbon-carbon bonds to 16 carbon-carbon bonds, approximately 10 carbon-carbon bonds to 14 carbon-carbon bonds, or approximately 12 carbon-carbon bonds. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 3 turns of an α-helix, the length is equal to approximately 14 carbon-carbon bonds to 22 carbon-carbon bonds, approximately 16 carbon-carbon bonds to 20 carbon-carbon bonds, or approximately 18 carbon-carbon bonds. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 4 turns of an α-helix, the length is equal to approximately 20 carbon-carbon bonds to 28 carbon-carbon bonds, approximately 22 carbon-carbon bonds to 26 carbon-carbon bonds, or approximately 24 carbon-carbon bonds. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 5 turns of an α-helix, the length is equal to approximately 26 carbon-carbon bonds to 34 carbon-carbon bonds, approximately 28 carbon-carbon bonds to 32 carbon-carbon bonds, or approximately 30 carbon-carbon bonds. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 1 turn of an α-helix, the linkage contains approximately 4 atoms to 12 atoms, approximately 6 atoms to 10 atoms, or approximately 8 atoms. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 2 turns of the α-helix, the linkage contains approximately 7 atoms to 15 atoms, approximately 9 atoms to 13 atoms, or approximately 11 atoms. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 3 turns of the α-helix, the linkage contains approximately 13 atoms to 21 atoms, approximately 15 atoms to 19 atoms, or approximately 17 atoms. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 4 turns of the α-helix, the linkage contains approximately 19 atoms to 27 atoms, approximately 21 atoms to 25 atoms, or approximately 23 atoms. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 5 turns of the α-helix, the linkage contains approximately 25 atoms to 33 atoms, approximately 27 atoms to 31 atoms, or approximately 29 atoms. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 1 turn of the α-helix, the resulting macrocycle forms a ring containing approximately 17 members to 25 members, approximately 19 members to 23 members, or approximately 21 members. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 2 turns of the α-helix, the resulting macrocycle forms a ring containing approximately 29 members to 37 members, approximately 31 members to 35 members, or approximately 33 members. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 3 turns of the α-helix, the resulting macrocycle forms a ring containing approximately 44 members to 52 members, approximately 46 members to 50 members, or approximately 48 members. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 4 turns of the α-helix, the resulting macrocycle forms a ring containing approximately 59 members to 67 members, approximately 61 members to 65 members, or approximately 63 members. Where the macrocycle-forming linker spans approximately 5 turns of the α-helix, the resulting macrocycle forms a ring containing approximately 74 members to 82 members, approximately 76 members to 80 members, or approximately 78 members.

Exemplary embodiments of the macrocycle-forming linker L are shown below:

In other embodiments, D and/or E are further modified in order to facilitate cellular uptake. In some embodiments, lipidating or PEGylating a peptidomimetic macrocycle facilitates cellular uptake, increases bioavailability, increases blood circulation, alters pharmacokinetics, decreases immunogenicity and/or decreases the needed frequency of administration.

In one embodiment, a peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits improved biological properties such as increased structural stability, increased affinity for a target, increased resistance to proteolytic degradation and/or increased cell penetrability when compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In another embodiment, a peptidomimetic macrocycle comprises one or more α-helices in aqueous solutions and/or exhibits an increased degree of α-helicity in comparison to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In some embodiments, a macrocycle-forming linker increases cell permeability of the peptidomimetic macrocycle. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is hypothesized that the macrocycle-forming linker may increase the overall hydrophobicity of the peptidomimetic macrocycle relative to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide.

Any protein or polypeptide with a known primary amino acid sequence which contains a secondary structure believed to impart biological activity is the subject of the present invention. For example, the sequence of the polypeptide can be analyzed and azide-containing and alkyne-containing amino acid analogs of the invention can be substituted at the appropriate positions. The appropriate positions are determined by ascertaining which molecular surface(s) of the secondary structure is (are) required for biological activity and, therefore, across which other surface(s) the macrocycle forming linkers of the invention can form a macrocycle without sterically blocking the surface(s) required for biological activity. Such determinations are made using methods such as X-ray crystallography of complexes between the secondary structure and a natural binding partner to visualize residues (and surfaces) critical for activity; by sequential mutagenesis of residues in the secondary structure to functionally identify residues (and surfaces) critical for activity; or by other methods. By such determinations, the appropriate amino acids are substituted with the amino acids analogs and macrocycle-forming linkers of the invention. For example, for an α-helical secondary structure, one surface of the helix (e.g., a molecular surface extending longitudinally along the axis of the helix and radially 45-135° about the axis of the helix) may be required to make contact with another biomolecule in vivo or in vitro for biological activity. In such a case, a macrocycle-forming linker is designed to link two α-carbons of the helix while extending longitudinally along the surface of the helix in the portion of that surface not directly required for activity.

In some embodiments of the invention, the peptide sequence is derived from the BCL-2 family of proteins. The BCL-2 family is defined by the presence of up to four conserved BCL-2 homology (BH) domains designated BH1, BH2, BH3, and BH4, all of which include α-helical segments (Chittenden et al. (1995), EMBO 14:5589; Wang et al. (1996), Genes Dev. 10:2859). Anti-apoptotic proteins, such as BCL-2 and BCL-X_(L), display sequence conservation in all BH domains. Pro-apoptotic proteins are divided into “multidomain” family members (e.g., BAK, BAX), which possess homology in the BH1, BH2, and BH3 domains, and “BH3-domain only” family members (e.g., BID, BAD, BIM, BIK, NOXA, PUMA), that contain sequence homology exclusively in the BH3 amphipathic α-helical segment. BCL-2 family members have the capacity to form homo- and heterodimers, suggesting that competitive binding and the ratio between pro- and anti-apoptotic protein levels dictates susceptibility to death stimuli. Anti-apoptotic proteins function to protect cells from pro-apoptotic excess, i.e., excessive programmed cell death. Additional “security” measures include regulating transcription of pro-apoptotic proteins and maintaining them as inactive conformers, requiring either proteolytic activation, dephosphorylation, or ligand-induced conformational change to activate pro-death functions. In certain cell types, death signals received at the plasma membrane trigger apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway. The mitochondria can serve as a gatekeeper of cell death by sequestering cytochrome c, a critical component of a cytosolic complex which activates caspase 9, leading to fatal downstream proteolytic events. Multidomain proteins such as BCL-2/BCL-X_(L) and BAK/BAX play dueling roles of guardian and executioner at the mitochondrial membrane, with their activities further regulated by upstream BH3-only members of the BCL-2 family. For example, BID is a member of the BH3-domain only family of pro-apoptotic proteins, and transmits death signals received at the plasma membrane to effector pro-apoptotic proteins at the mitochondrial membrane. BID has the capability of interacting with both pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, and upon activation by caspase 8, triggers cytochrome c release and mitochondrial apoptosis. Deletion and mutagenesis studies determined that the amphipathic α-helical BH3 segment of pro-apoptotic family members may function as a death domain and thus may represent a critical structural motif for interacting with multidomain apoptotic proteins. Structural studies have shown that the BH3 helix can interact with anti-apoptotic proteins by inserting into a hydrophobic groove formed by the interface of BH1, 2 and 3 domains. Activated BID can be bound and sequestered by anti-apoptotic proteins (e.g., BCL-2 and BCL-X_(L)) and can trigger activation of the pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and BAK, leading to cytochrome c release and a mitochondrial apoptosis program. BAD is also a BH3-domain only pro-apoptotic family member whose expression triggers the activation of BAX/BAK. In contrast to BID, however, BAD displays preferential binding to anti-apoptotic family members, BCL-2 and BCL-X_(L). Whereas the BAD BH3 domain exhibits high affinity binding to BCL-2, BAD BH3 peptide is unable to activate cytochrome c release from mitochondria in vitro, suggesting that BAD is not a direct activator of BAX/BAK. Mitochondria that over-express BCL-2 are resistant to BID-induced cytochrome c release, but co-treatment with BAD can restore BID sensitivity. Induction of mitochondrial apoptosis by BAD appears to result from either: (1) displacement of BAX/BAK activators, such as BID and BID-like proteins, from the BCL-2/BCL-XL binding pocket, or (2) selective occupation of the BCL-2/BCL-XL binding pocket by BAD to prevent sequestration of BID-like proteins by anti-apoptotic proteins. Thus, two classes of BH3-domain only proteins have emerged, BID-like proteins that directly activate mitochondrial apoptosis, and BAD-like proteins, that have the capacity to sensitize mitochondria to BID-like pro-apoptotics by occupying the binding pockets of multidomain anti-apoptotic proteins. Various α-helical domains of BCL-2 family member proteins amendable to the methodology disclosed herein have been disclosed (Walensky et al. (2004), Science 305:1466; and Walensky et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0250680, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference).

In other embodiments, the peptide sequence is derived from the tumor suppressor p53 protein which binds to the oncogene protein MDM2. The MDM2 binding site is localized within a region of the p53 tumor suppressor that forms an α helix. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,983, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, Lane et al. disclose that the region of p53 responsible for binding to MDM2 is represented approximately by amino acids 13-31 (PLSQETFSDLWKLLPENNV)(SEQ ID NO: 1) of mature human P53 protein. Other modified sequences disclosed by Lane are also contemplated in the instant invention. Furthermore, the interaction of p53 and MDM2 has been discussed by Shair et al. (1997), Chem. & Biol. 4:791, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and mutations in the p53 gene have been identified in virtually half of all reported cancer cases. As stresses are imposed on a cell, p53 is believed to orchestrate a response that leads to either cell-cycle arrest and DNA repair, or programmed cell death. As well as mutations in the p53 gene that alter the function of the p53 protein directly, p53 can be altered by changes in MDM2. The MDM2 protein has been shown to bind to p53 and disrupt transcriptional activation by associating with the transactivation domain of p53. For example, an 11 amino-acid peptide derived from the transactivation domain of p53 forms an amphipathic α-helix of 2.5 turns that inserts into the MDM2 crevice. Thus, in some embodiments, novel α-helix structures generated by the method of the present invention are engineered to generate structures that bind tightly to the helix acceptor and disrupt native protein-protein interactions. These structures are then screened using high throughput techniques to identify optimal small molecule peptides. The novel structures that disrupt the MDM2 interaction are useful for many applications, including, but not limited to, control of soft tissue sarcomas (which over-expresses MDM2 in the presence of wild type p53). These cancers are then, in some embodiments, held in check with small molecules that intercept MDM2, thereby preventing suppression of p53. Additionally, in some embodiments, small molecules disrupters of MDM2-p53 interactions are used as adjuvant therapy to help control and modulate the extent of the p53 dependent apoptosis response in conventional chemotherapy.

A non-limiting exemplary list of suitable peptide sequences for use in the present invention is given below:

TABLE 1 Sequence  Cross-linked  Name (bold = critical residues) Sequence (X = x-link residue) BH3 peptides (SEQ ID NOS 2-24) (SEQ ID NOS 25-47) BID-BH3 QEDIIRNIARHLAQVGDSMDRSIPP QEDIIRNIARHLA X VGD X MDRSIPP BIM-BH3 DNRPEIWIAQELRRIGDEFNAYYAR DNRPEIWIAQELR X IGD X FNAYYAR BAD-BH3 NLWAAQRYGRELRRMSDEFVDSFKK NLWAAQRYGRELR X MSD X FVDSFKK PUMA-BH3 EEQWAREIGAQLRRMADDLNAQYER EEQWAREIGAQLR X MAD X LNAQYER Hrk-BH3 RSSAAQLTAARLKALGDELHQRTM RSSAAQLTAARLK X LGD X LHQRTM NOXAA-BH3 AELPPEFAAQLRKIGDKVYCTW AELPPEFAAQLR X IGD X VYCTW NOXAB-BH3 VPADLKDECAQLRRIGDKVNLRQKL VPADLKDECAQLR X IGD X VNLRQKL BMF-BH3 QHRAEVQIARKLQCIADQFHRLHT QHRAEVQIARKLQ X IAD X FHRLHT BLK-BH3 SSAAQLTAARLKALGDELHQRT SSAAQLTAARLK X LGD X LHQRT BIK-BH3 CMEGSDALALRLACIGDEMDVSLRA CMEGSDALALRLA X IGD X MDVSLRA Bnip3 DIERRKEVESILKKNSDWIWDWSS DIERRKEVESILK X NSD X IWDWSS BOK-BH3 GRLAEVCAVLLRLGDELEMIRP GRLAEVCAVLL X LGD X LEMIRP BAX-BH3 PQDASTKKSECLKRIGDELDSNMEL PQDASTKKSECLK X IGD X LDSNMEL BAK-BH3 PSSTMGQVGRQLAIIGDDINRR PSSTMGQVGRQLA X IGD X INRR BCL2L1-BH3 KQALREAGDEFELR KQALR X AGD X FELR BCL2-BH3 LSPPVVHLALALRQAGDDFSRR LSPPVVHLALALR X AGD X FSRR BCL-XL-BH3 EVIPMAAVKQALREAGDEFELRY EVIPMAAVKQALR X AGD X FELRY BCL-W-BH3 PADPLHQAMRAAGDEFETRF PADPLHQAMR X AGD X FETRF MCL1-BH3 ATSRKLETLRRVGDGVQRNHETA ATSRKLETLR X VGD X VQRNHETA MTD-BH3 LAEVCTVLLRLGDELEQIR LAEVCTVLL X LGD X LEQIR MAP-1-BH3 MTVGELSRALGHENGSLDP MTVGELSRALG X ENG X LDP NIX-BH3 VVEGEKEVEALKKSADWVSDWS VVEGEKEVEALK X SAD X VSDWS 4ICD(ERBB4)-BH3 SMARDPQRYLVIQGDDRMKL SMARDPQRYLV X QGD X RMKL Table 1 lists human sequences which target the BH3 binding site and are implicated in cancers, autoimmune disorders, metabolic diseases and other human disease conditions.

TABLE 2 Sequence Cross-linked Sequence Name (bold = critical residues) (X = x-link residue) BH3 peptides (SEQ ID NOS 2-24) (SEQ ID NOS 48-70) BID-BH3 QEDIIRNIARHLAQVGDSMDRSIPP QEDIIRNI X RHL X QVGDSMDRSIPP BIM-BH3 DNRPEIWIAQELRRIGDEFNAYYAR DNRPEIWI X QEL X RIGDEFNAYYAR BAD-BH3 NLWAAQRYGRELRRMSDEFVDSFKK NLWAAQRY X REL X RMSDEFVDSFKK PUMA-BH3 EEQWAREIGAQLRRMADDLNAQYER EEQWAREI X AQL X RMADDLNAQYER Hrk-BH3 RSSAAQLTAARLKALGDELHQRTM RSSAAQLT X ARL X ALGDELHQRTM NOXAA-BH3 AELPPEFAAQLRKIGDKVYCTW AELPPEF X AQL X KIGDKVYCTW NOXAB-BH3 VPADLKDECAQLRRIGDKVNLRQKL VPADLKDE X AQL X RIGDKVNLRQKL BMF-BH3 QHRAEVQIARKLQCIADQFHRLHT QHRAEVQI X RKL X CIADQFHRLHT BLK-BH3 SSAAQLTAARLKALGDELHQRT SSAAQLT X ARL X ALGDELHQRT BIK-BH3 CMEGSDALALRLACIGDEMDVSLRA CMEGSDAL X LRL X CIGDEMDVSLRA Bnip3 DIERRKEVESILKKNSDWIWDWSS DIERRKEV X SIL X KNSDWIWDWSS BOK-BH3 GRLAEVCAVLLRLGDELEMIRP GRLAEV X AVL X RLGDELEMIRP BAX-BH3 PQDASTKKSECLKRIGDELDSNMEL PQDASTKK X ECL X RIGDELDSNMEL BAK-BH3 PSSTMGQVGRQLAIIGDDINRR PSSTMGQV X RQL X IIGDDINRR BCL2L1-BH3 KQALREAGDEFELR X QAL X EAGDEFELR BCL2-BH3 LSPPVVHLALALRQAGDDFSRR LSPPVVHL X LAL X QAGDDFSRR BCL-XL-BH3 EVIPMAAVKQALREAGDEFELRY EVIPMAAV X QAL X EAGDEFELRY BCL-W-BH3 PADPLHQAMRAAGDEFETRF PADPLXQAM X AAGDEFETRF MCL1-BH3 ATSRKLETLRRVGDGVQRNHETA ATSRK X ETL X RVGDGVQRNHETA MTD-BH3 LAEVCTVLLRLGDELEQIR LAEV X TVL X RLGDELEQIR MAP-1-BH3 MTVGELSRALGHENGSLDP MTVGEL X RAL X HENGSLDP NIX-BH3 VVEGEKEVEALKKSADWVSDWS VVEGEKE X EAL X KSADWVSDWS 4ICD(ERBB4)-BH3 SMARDPQRYLVIQGDDRMKL SMARDP X RYL X IQGDDRMKL Table 2 lists human sequences which target the BH3 binding site and are implicated in cancers, autoimmune disorders, metabolic diseases and other human disease conditions.

TABLE 3 Sequence Cross-linked Sequence Name (bold = critical residues) (X = x-link residue) P53 peptides (SEQ ID NOS 76-85) hp53 peptide_veryshort LSQETFSDLWKLLPEN X SQE X FSDLWKLLPEN (SEQ ID NO: 71) hp53 peptide_short PPLSQETFSDLWKLLPENN PP X SQE X FSDLWKLLPENN (SEQ ID NO: 72) hp53-P27S peptide-short PPLSQETFSDLWKLLSENN PP X SQE X FSDLWKLLSENN (SEQ ID NO: 73) hp53 peptide_Long DPSVEPPLSQETFSDLWKLLPENNVLSPLP DPSVEPP X SQE X FSDLWKLLPENNVLSPLP (SEQ ID NO: 74) hp53-P27S peptide_ Long DPSVEPPLSQETFSDLWKLLSENNVLSPLP DPSVEPP X SQE X FSDLWKLLSENNVLSPLP (SEQ ID NO: 75) hp53 peptide_veryshort LSQETFSDLWKLLPEN LSQETFSDLW X LLPXN (SEQ ID NO: 71) hp53 peptide_short PPLSQETFSDLWKLLPENN PPLSQETFSDLW X LLPXNN (SEQ ID NO: 72) hp53-P27S peptide-short PPLSQETFSDLWKLLSENN PPLSQETFSDLW X LLSXNN (SEQ ID NO: 73) hp53 peptide_Long DPSVEPPLSQETFSDLWKLLPENNVLSPLP DPSVEPPLSQETFSDLW X LLP X NNVLSPLP (SEQ ID NO: 74) hp53-P27S peptide_Long DPSVEPPLSQETFSDLWKLLSENNVLSPLP DPSVEPPLSQETFSDLW X LLS X NNVLSPLP (SEQ ID NO: 75) Table 3 lists human sequences which target the p53 binding site of MDM2/X and are implicated in cancers.

TABLE 4 Sequence Cross-linked Sequence Name (bold = critical residues) ( X  = x-link residue) GPCR peptide ligands (SEQ ID NOS 86-91) (SEQ ID NOS 92-97) Angiotensin II DRVYIHPF DR X Y X HPF Bombesin EQRLGNQWAVGHLM EQRLGN X WAVGHL X Bradykinin RPPGFSPFR RPP X FSPFR X C5a ISHKDMQLGR ISHKDM X LGR X C3a ARASHLGLAR ARASHL X LAR X α-melanocyte SYSMEHFRWGKPV SYSM X HFRW X KPV stimulating hormone Table 4 lists sequences which target human G protein-coupled receptors and are implicated in numerous human disease conditions (Tyndall et al. (2005), Chem. Rev. 105:793-826).

Methods of Preparing the Peptidomimetic Macrocycles of the Invention

Methods of synthesizing the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the synthesis of these peptidomimetic macrocycles involves a multi-step process that features the synthesis of a peptidomimetic precursor containing an azide moiety and an alkyne moiety; followed by contacting the peptidomimetic precursor with a macrocyclization reagent to generate a triazole-linked peptidomimetic macrocycle. Macrocycles or macrocycle precursors are synthesized, for example, by solution phase or solid-phase methods, and can contain both naturally-occurring and non-naturally-occurring amino acids. See, for example, Hunt, “The Non-Protein Amino Acids” in Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Amino Acids, edited by G. C. Barrett, Chapman and Hall, 1985.

In some embodiments, an azide is linked to the α-carbon of a residue and an alkyne is attached to the α-carbon of another residue. In some embodiments, the azide moieties are azido-analogs of amino acids L-lysine, D-lysine, alpha-methyl-L-lysine, alpha-methyl-D-lysine, L-ornithine, D-ornithine, alpha-methyl-L-ornithine or alpha-methyl-D-ornithine. In another embodiment, the alkyne moiety is L-propargylglycine. In yet other embodiments, the alkyne moiety is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-propargylglycine, D-propargylglycine, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid and (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for synthesizing a peptidomimetic macrocycle, the method comprising the steps of contacting a peptidomimetic precursor of Formula III or Formula IV:

with a macrocyclization reagent;

wherein v, w, x, y, z, A, B, C, D, E, R₁, R₂, R₇, R₈, L₁ and L₂ are as defined above; R₁₂ is —H when the macrocyclization reagent is a Cu reagent and R₁₂ is —H or alkyl when the macrocyclization reagent is a Ru reagent; and further wherein said contacting step results in a covalent linkage being formed between the alkyne and azide moiety in Formula III or Formula IV. For example, R₁₂ may be methyl when the macrocyclization reagent is a Ru reagent.

In some embodiments of the method of the invention, at least one of R₁ and R₂ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In related embodiments, R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-.

For instance, at least one of R₁ and R₂ may be alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In another example, both R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In some embodiments, at least one of R₁ and R₂ is methyl. In other embodiments, R₁ and R₂ are methyl. The macrocyclization reagent may be a Cu reagent or a Ru reagent.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic precursor is purified prior to the contacting step. In other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle is purified after the contacting step. In still other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle is refolded after the contacting step. The method may be performed in solution, or, alternatively, the method may be performed on a solid support.

Also envisioned herein is performing the method of the invention in the presence of a target macromolecule that binds to the peptidomimetic precursor or peptidomimetic macrocycle under conditions that favor said binding. In some embodiments, the method is performed in the presence of a target macromolecule that binds preferentially to the peptidomimetic precursor or peptidomimetic macrocycle under conditions that favor said binding. The method may also be applied to synthesize a library of peptidomimetic macrocycles.

The peptidomimetic macrocycle resulting from a method of the invention may comprise an α-helix in aqueous solution. For example, the peptidomimetic macrocycle may exhibit increased α-helical structure in aqueous solution compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased thermal stability compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased biological activity compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In still other embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased resistance to proteolytic degradation compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In yet other embodiments, the the peptidomimetic macrocycle exhibits increased ability to penetrate living cells compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide.

In some embodiments, the alkyne moiety of the peptidomimetic precursor of Formula III or Formula IV is a sidechain of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-propargylglycine, D-propargylglycine, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid, and (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid. In other embodiments, the azide moiety of the peptidomimetic precursor of Formula III or Formula IV is a sidechain of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of ε-azido-L-lysine, ε-azido-D-lysine, ε-azido-α-methyl-L-lysine, ε-azido-α-methyl-D-lysine, δ-azido-α-methyl-L-ornithine, and δ-azido-α-methyl-D-ornithine.

In some embodiments, x+y+z is 3, and and A, B and C are independently natural or non-natural amino acids. In other embodiments, x+y+z is 6, and and A, B and C are independently natural or non-natural amino acids.

In some embodiments, the contacting step is performed in a solvent selected from the group consisting of protic solvent, aqueous solvent, organic solvent, and mixtures thereof. For example, the solvent may be chosen from the group consisting of H₂O, THF, THF/H₂O, tBuOH/H₂O, DMF, DIPEA, CH₃CN or CH₂Cl₂, ClCH₂CH₂Cl or a mixture thereof. The solvent may be a solvent which favors helix formation.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycle resulting from performing the method of the invention has the Formula (I):

wherein v, w, x, y, z, A, B, C, D, E, R₁, R₂, R₇, R₈, and L are as defined above.

Alternative but equivalent protecting groups, leaving groups or reagents are substituted, and certain of the synthetic steps are performed in alternative sequences or orders to produce the desired compounds. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting group methodologies (protection and deprotection) useful in synthesizing the compounds described herein include, for example, those such as described in Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, VCH Publishers (1989); Greene and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2d. Ed., John Wiley and Sons (1991); Fieser and Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1994); and Paquette, ed., Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1995), and subsequent editions thereof.

The peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention are made, for example, by chemical synthesis methods, such as described in Fields et al., Chapter 3 in Synthetic Peptides: A User's Guide, ed. Grant, W. H. Freeman & Co., New York, N.Y., 1992, p. 77. Hence, for example, peptides are synthesized using the automated Merrifield techniques of solid phase synthesis with the amine protected by either tBoc or Fmoc chemistry using side chain protected amino acids on, for example, an automated peptide synthesizer (e.g., Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.), Model 430A, 431, or 433).

One manner of producing the peptidomimetic precursors and peptidomimetic macrocycles described herein uses solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). The C-terminal amino acid is attached to a cross-linked polystyrene resin via an acid labile bond with a linker molecule. This resin is insoluble in the solvents used for synthesis, making it relatively simple and fast to wash away excess reagents and by-products. The N-terminus is protected with the Fmoc group, which is stable in acid, but removable by base. Side chain functional groups are protected as necessary with base stable, acid labile groups.

Longer peptidomimetic precursors are produced, for example, by conjoining individual synthetic peptides using native chemical ligation. Alternatively, the longer synthetic peptides are biosynthesized by well known recombinant DNA and protein expression techniques. Such techniques are provided in well-known standard manuals with detailed protocols. To construct a gene encoding a peptidomimetic precursor of this invention, the amino acid sequence is reverse translated to obtain a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence, preferably with codons that are optimum for the organism in which the gene is to be expressed. Next, a synthetic gene is made, typically by synthesizing oligonucleotides which encode the peptide and any regulatory elements, if necessary. The synthetic gene is inserted in a suitable cloning vector and transfected into a host cell. The peptide is then expressed under suitable conditions appropriate for the selected expression system and host. The peptide is purified and characterized by standard methods.

The peptidomimetic precursors are made, for example, in a high-throughput, combinatorial fashion using, for example, a high-throughput polychannel combinatorial synthesizer (e.g., Model Apex 396 multichannel peptide synthesizer from AAPPTEC, Inc., Louisville, Ky.).

The following synthetic schemes are provided solely to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as described herein. To simplify the drawings, the illustrative schemes depict azido amino acid analogs ε-azido-α-methyl-L-lysine and ε-azido-α-methyl-D-lysine, and alkyne amino acid analogs L-propargylglycine, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, and (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid. Thus, in the following synthetic schemes, each R₁, R₂, R₇ and R₈ is —H; each L₁ is —(CH₂)₄—; and each L₂ is —(CH₂)—. However, as noted throughout the detailed description above, many other amino acid analogs can be employed in which R₁, R₂, R₇, R₈, L₁ and L₂ can be independently selected from the various structures disclosed herein.

Synthetic Scheme 1 describes the preparation of several compounds of the invention. Ni(II) complexes of Schiff bases derived from the chiral auxiliary (S)-2-[N—(N′-benzylprolyl)amino]benzophenone (BPB) and amino acids such as glycine or alanine are prepared as described in Belokon et al. (1998), Tetrahedron Asymm. 9:4249-4252. The resulting complexes are subsequently reacted with alkylating reagents comprising an azido or alkynyl moiety to yield enantiomerically enriched compounds of the invention. If desired, the resulting compounds can be protected for use in peptide synthesis.

In the general method for the synthesis of peptidomimetic macrocycles shown in Synthetic Scheme 2, the peptidomimetic precursor contains an azide moiety and an alkyne moiety and is synthesized by solution-phase or solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using the commercially available amino acid N-α-Fmoc-L-propargylglycine and the N-α-Fmoc-protected forms of the amino acids (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, N-methyl-ε-azido-L-lysine, and N-methyl-ε-azido-D-lysine. The peptidomimetic precursor is then deprotected and cleaved from the solid-phase resin by standard conditions (e.g., strong acid such as 95% TFA). The peptidomimetic precursor is reacted as a crude mixture or is purified prior to reaction with a macrocyclization reagent such as a Cu(I) in organic or aqueous solutions (Rostovtsev et al. (2002), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 41:2596-2599; Tornoe et al. (2002), J. Org. Chem. 67:3057-3064; Deiters et al. (2003), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125:11782-11783; Purina et al. (2005), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 44:2215-2220). In one embodiment, the triazole forming reaction is performed under conditions that favor α-helix formation. In one embodiment, the macrocyclization step is performed in a solvent chosen from the group consisting of H₂O, THF, CH₃CN, DMF, DIPEA, tBuOH or a mixture thereof. In another embodiment, the macrocyclization step is performed in DMF. In some embodiments, the macrocyclization step is performed in a buffered aqueous or partially aqueous solvent.

In the general method for the synthesis of peptidomimetic macrocycles shown in Synthetic Scheme 3, the peptidomimetic precursor contains an azide moiety and an alkyne moiety and is synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using the commercially available amino acid N-α-Fmoc-L-propargylglycine and the N-α-Fmoc-protected forms of the amino acids (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, N-methyl-ε-azido-L-lysine, and N-methyl-ε-azido-D-lysine. The peptidomimetic precursor is reacted with a macrocyclization reagent such as a Cu(I) reagent on the resin as a crude mixture (Rostovtsev et al. (2002), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 41:2596-2599; Tornoe et al. (2002), J. Org. Chem. 67:3057-3064; Deiters et al. (2003), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125:11782-11783; Punna et al. (2005), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 44:2215-2220). The resultant triazole-containing peptidomimetic macrocycle is then deprotected and cleaved from the solid-phase resin by standard conditions (e.g., strong acid such as 95% TFA). In some embodiments, the macrocyclization step is performed in a solvent chosen from the group consisting of CH₂Cl₂, ClCH₂CH₂Cl, DMF, THF, NMP, DIPEA, 2,6-lutidine, pyridine, DMSO, H₂O or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the macrocyclization step is performed in a buffered aqueous or partially aqueous solvent.

In the general method for the synthesis of peptidomimetic macrocycles shown in Synthetic Scheme 4, the peptidomimetic precursor contains an azide moiety and an alkyne moiety and is synthesized by solution-phase or solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using the commercially available amino acid N-α-Fmoc-L-propargylglycine and the N-α-Fmoc-protected forms of the amino acids (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, N-methyl-ε-azido-L-lysine, and N-methyl-ε-azido-D-lysine. The peptidomimetic precursor is then deprotected and cleaved from the solid-phase resin by standard conditions (e.g., strong acid such as 95% TFA). The peptidomimetic precursor is reacted as a crude mixture or is purified prior to reaction with a macrocyclization reagent such as a Ru(II) reagents, for example Cp*RuCl(PPh₃)₂ or [Cp*RuCl]₄ (Rasmussen et al. (2007), Org. Lett. 9:5337-5339; Zhang et al. (2005), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127:15998-15999). In some embodiments, the macrocyclization step is performed in a solvent chosen from the group consisting of DMF, CH₃CN and THF.

In the general method for the synthesis of peptidomimetic macrocycles shown in Synthetic Scheme 5, the peptidomimetic precursor contains an azide moiety and an alkyne moiety and is synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using the commercially available amino acidN-α-Fmoc-L-propargylglycine and the N-α-Fmoc-protected forms of the amino acids (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, N-methyl-ε-azido-L-lysine, and N-methyl-ε-azido-D-lysine. The peptidomimetic precursor is reacted with a macrocyclization reagent such as a Ru(II) reagent on the resin as a crude mixture. For example, the reagent can be Cp*RuCl(PPh₃)₂ or [Cp*RuCl]₄ (Rasmussen et al. (2007), Org. Lett. 9:5337-5339; Zhang et al. (2005), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127:15998-15999). In some embodiments, the macrocyclization step is performed in a solvent chosen from the group consisting of CH₂Cl₂, ClCH₂CH₂Cl, CH₃CN, DMF, and THF.

Several exemplary peptidomimetic macrocycles are shown in Table 5. For these macrocycles, a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide is the BID BH3 polypeptide sequence fragment DIIRNIARHLAQVGDSMDRSI (SEQ ID NO: 98). “Nle” represents norleucine and replaces a methionine residue. It is envisioned that similar linkers are used to synthesize peptidomimetic macrocycles based on the polypeptide sequences disclosed in Table 1 through Table 4.

TABLE 5

MW = 2464

MW = 2464

MW = 2478

MW = 2478

MW = 2492

MW = 2492

MW = 2464

MW = 2464

MW = 2478

MW = 2478

MW = 2492

MW = 2492 Table 5 shows exemplary peptidommimetic macrocycles of the invention. “Nle” represents norleucine (peptide disclosed is SEQ ID NO: 99).

Amino Acid Analogs

The present invention contemplates the use of non-naturally-occurring amino acids and amino acid analogs in the synthesis of the peptidomimetic macrocycles described herein. Any amino acid or amino acid analog amenable to the synthetic methods employed for the synthesis of stable triazole containing peptidomimetic macrocycles can be used in the present invention. For example, L-propargylglycine is contemplated as a useful amino acid in the present invention. However, other alkyne-containing amino acids that contain a different amino acid side chain are also useful in the invention. For example, L-propargylglycine contains one methylene unit between the α-carbon of the amino acid and the alkyne of the amino acid side chain. The invention also contemplates the use of amino acids with multiple methylene units between the α-carbon and the alkyne. Also, the azido-analogs of amino acids L-lysine, D-lysine, alpha-methyl-L-lysine, and alpha-methyl-D-lysine are contemplated as useful amino acids in the present invention. However, other terminal azide amino acids that contain a different amino acid side chain are also useful in the invention. For example, the azido-analog of L-lysine contains four methylene units between the α-carbon of the amino acid and the terminal azide of the amino acid side chain. The invention also contemplates the use of amino acids with fewer than or greater than four methylene units between the α-carbon and the terminal azide. Table 6 shows some amino acids useful in the preparation of peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention.

TABLE 6

N-α-Fmoc-L-propargyl glycine

N-α-Fmoc-(S)-2-amino-2- methyl-4-pentynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(S)-2-amino-2- methyl-5-hexynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(S)-2-amino-2- methyl-6-heptynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(S)-2-amino-2- methyl-7-octynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(S)-2-amino-2- methyl-8-nonynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-D-propargyl glycine

N-α-Fmoc-(R)-2-amino-2- methyl-4-pentynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(R)-2-amino-2- methyl-5-hexynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(R)-2-amino-2- methyl-6-heptynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(R)-2-amino-2- methyl-7-octynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-(R)-2-amino-2- methyl-8-nonynoic acid

N-α-Fmoc-ϵ-azido- L-lysine

N-α-Fmoc-ϵ-azido- α-methyl-L-lysine

N-α-Fmoc-δ-azido- L-ornithine

N-α-Fmoc-ϵ-azido- α-methyl-L- ornithine

N-α-Fmoc-ϵ-azido- D-lysine

N-α-Fmoc-ϵ-azido- α-methyl-D-lysine

N-α-Fmoc-δ-azido- D-ornithine

N-α-Fmoc-ϵ-azido- α-methyl-D- ornithine

-   -   Table 6 shows exemplary amino acids useful in the preparation of         peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention.

In some embodiments the amino acids and amino acid analogs are of the D-configuration. In other embodiments they are of the L-configuration. In some embodiments, some of the amino acids and amino acid analogs contained in the peptidomimetic are of the D-configuration while some of the amino acids and amino acid analogs are of the L-configuration. In some embodiments the amino acid analogs are α,α-disubstituted, such as α-methyl-L-propargylglycine, α-methyl-D-propargylglycine, ε-azido-alpha-methyl-L-lysine, and ε-azido-alpha-methyl-D-lysine. In some embodiments the amino acid analogs are N-alkylated, e.g., N-methyl-L-propargylglycine, N-methyl-D-propargylglycine, N-methyl-ε-azido-L-lysine, and N-methyl-ε-azido-D-lysine.

In some embodiments, the —NH moiety of the amino acid is protected using a protecting group, including without limitation -Fmoc and -Boc. In other embodiments, the amino acid is not protected prior to synthesis of the peptidomimetic macrocycle.

In some embodiments, an amino acid useful in the synthesis of the peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention is a compound of Formula IIa or IIb:

wherein

R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-;

each Q and T is independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene and [—R₄—K—R₄—]_(n), each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with R₅;

K is O, S, SO, SO₂, CO, CO₂, or CONR₃;

R₃ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅;

R₄ is alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene;

each R₅ is independently halogen, alkyl, —OR₆, —N(R₆)₂, —SOR₆, —SOR₆, —SO₂R₆, —CO₂R₆, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

each R₆ is independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

R₇ and R₈ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkylalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl;

R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently —H or any protecting group suitable for peptide synthesis;

g and h are each independently an integer from 0 to 5, wherein g+h is greater than 1; and

n is an integer from 1 to 5.

In some embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIa and R₁ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In other embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIb and R₂ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In yet other embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIa and R₁ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₁ may be methyl. In still other embodiments, the compound is a compound of Formula IIb and R₂ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₂ may be methyl.

In some embodiments of the compounds of the invention, at least one of R₉ and R₁₀ is a protected group suitable for peptide synthesis.

Kits

In another aspect, the present invention further provides kits comprising compounds of the invention or other amino acid analogs useful in the preparation of the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention along with macrocyclization reagents as described herein.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a kit comprising:

a) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of Formulas IIa and IIb:

wherein

R₁ and R₂ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-;

each Q and T is independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene and [—R₄—K—R₄—]_(n), each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with R₅;

K is O, S, SO, SO₂, CO, CO₂, or CONR₃;

R₃ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, optionally substituted with R₅;

R₄ is alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene;

each R₅ is independently halogen, alkyl, —OR₆, —N(R₆)₂, —SR₆, —SOR₆, —SO₂R₆, —CO₂R₆, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

each R₆ is independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent;

R₇ and R₈ are independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkylalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl;

R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently —H or any protecting group suitable for peptide synthesis;

g and h are each independently an integer from 0 to 5;

n is an integer from 1 to 5; and

b) a macrocyclization reagent.

In some embodiments, the kit comprises a compound of Formula IIa and R₁ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In related embodiments, R₁ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₁ may be methyl. In other embodiments, the kit comprises a compound of Formula IIb and R₂ is alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with halo-. In related embodiments, R₂ is unsubstituted alkyl. For example, R₂ may be methyl.

In some embodiments, a kit comprises at least one compound of Formula IIa and at least one compound of Formula IIb. A kit of the invention may also comprise a compound of Formula IIa or Formula IIb wherein at least one of R₉ and R₁₀ is a protected group suitable for peptide synthesis. In specific embodiments of the kit of the invention, the macrocyclization reagent is a Cu reagent or a Ru reagent. In some embodiments, the kit contains a plurality of compounds of Formula IIa and/or Formula IIb. In some embodiments, the kit comprises one or more containers holding one or more amino acid analogs as described herein. In other embodiments, the kit comprises one or more containers holding one or more macrocyclization reagents as described herein. In yet other embodiments, the kit comprises one or more containers holding one or more amino acid analogs as described herein, as well as one or more containers holding one or more macrocyclization reagents as described herein.

For example, in some embodiments, the kit comprises a container holding at least two amino acid analogs, as described above, at least one having a side-chain alkyne and at least one having a side-chain terminal azide moiety, the amino acid analog optionally protected and suitable for the syntheses described herein. In some embodiments, the amino acid analog is selected from the group consisting of L-propargylglycine, D-propargylglycine, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-pentynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-5-hexynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-6-heptynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-7-octynoic acid, (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid, (R)-2-amino-2-methyl-8-nonynoic acid, ε-azido-L-lysine, ε-azido-D-lysine, ε-azido-α-methyl-L-lysine, and ε-azido-α-methyl-D-lysine, δ-azido-α-methyl-L-ornithine, and δ-azido-α-methyl-D-ornithine and all forms suitably protected for liquid or solid phase peptide synthesis.

In some embodiments, the kit comprises a container holding at least one non-naturally-occurring amino acid, or amino acid analog, bound to a solid support compatible with the syntheses described herein for peptidomimetic macrocycles. In some embodiments, the kit comprises one container holding an amino acid analog of the invention including a terminal alkyne moiety in combination with a container holding an amino acid analog of the invention including a terminal azide moiety in combination with a macrocyclization reagent of the invention.

Assays

The properties of the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention are assayed, for example, by using the methods described below. In some embodiments, a macrocycle of the invention has enhanced properties relative to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. A corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide is, for example, a precursor of a peptidomimetic macrocycle, such as a compound of Formula III or IV which is converted into said macrocycle. Alternatively, a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide is a polypeptide sequence, such as a natural polypeptide sequence which has substantial sequence overlap with the macrocycle of the invention. Numerous examples of natural polypeptides corresponding to the macrocyclic polypeptide are shown in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4.

In general, a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide can also be a labeled natural polypeptide or peptidomimetic precursor. Such labeling, for example by fluorescent or radioactive labeling, is used if necessary in some of the assays described below. In such assays, both the macrocycle and the corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide are typically labeled by similar or functionally equivalent methods.

Assay to Determine α-Helicity.

In solution, the secondary structure of polypeptides with α-helical domains will reach a dynamic equilibrium between random coil structures and α-helical structures, often expressed as a “percent helicity”. Thus, for example, unmodified pro-apoptotic BH3 domains are predominantly random coils in solution, with α-helical content usually under 25%. Peptidomimetic macrocycles with optimized linkers, on the other hand, possess, for example, an alpha-helicity that is at least two-fold greater than that of a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In some embodiments, macrocycles of the invention will possess an alpha-helicity of greater than 50%. To assay the helicity of peptidomimetic macrocyles of the invention, such as BH3 domain-based macrocycles, the compounds are dissolved in an aqueous solution (e.g. 50 mM potassium phosphate solution at pH 7, or distilled H₂O, to concentrations of 25-50 μM). Circular dichroism (CD) spectra are obtained on a spectropolarimeter (e.g., Jasco J-710) using standard measurement parameters (e.g. temperature, 20° C.; wavelength, 190-260 nm; step resolution, 0.5 nm; speed, 20 nm/sec; accumulations, 10; response, 1 sec; bandwidth, 1 nm; path length, 0.1 cm). The α-helical content of each peptide is calculated by dividing the mean residue ellipticity (e.g. [Φ]222obs) by the reported value for a model helical decapeptide (Yang et al. (1986), Methods Enzymol. 130:208)).

Assay to Determine Melting Temperature (Tm).

A peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention comprising a secondary structure such as an α-helix exhibits, for example, a higher melting temperature than a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. Typically peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention exhibit Tm of >60° C. representing a highly stable structure in aqueous solutions. To assay the effect of macrocycle formation on meltine temperature, peptidomimetic macrocycles or unmodified peptides are dissolved in distilled H₂O (e.g. at a final concentration of 50 μM) and the Tm is determined by measuring the change in ellipticity over a temperature range (e.g. 4 to 95° C.) on a spectropolarimeter (e.g., Jasco J-710) using standard parameters (e.g. wavelength 222 nm; step resolution, 0.5 nm; speed, 20 nm/sec; accumulations, 10; response, 1 sec; bandwidth, 1 nm; temperature increase rate: 1° C./min; path length, 0.1 cm).

Protease Resistance Assay.

The amide bond of the peptide backbone is susceptible to hydrolysis by proteases, thereby rendering peptidic compounds vulnerable to rapid degradation in vivo. Peptide helix formation, however, typically buries the amide backbone and therefore may shield it from proteolytic cleavage. The peptidomimetic macrocycles of the present invention may be subjected to in vitro trypsin proteolysis to assess for any change in degradation rate compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. For example, the peptidomimetic macrocycle and a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide are incubated with trypsin agarose and the reactions quenched at various time points by centrifugation and subsequent HPLC injection to quantitate the residual substrate by ultraviolet absorption at 280 nm. Briefly, the peptidomimetic macrocycle and peptidomimetic precursor (5 mcg) are incubated with trypsin agarose (Pierce) (S/E ˜125) for 0, 10, 20, 90, and 180 minutes. Reactions are quenched by tabletop centrifugation at high speed; remaining substrate in the isolated supernatant is quantified by HPLC-based peak detection at 280 nm. The proteolytic reaction displays first order kinetics and the rate constant, k, is determined from a plot of ln[S] versus time (k=−1Xslope).

Ex Vivo Stability Assay.

Peptidomimetic macrocycles with optimized linkers possess, for example, an ex vivo half-life that is at least two-fold greater than that of a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide peptide, and possess an ex vivo half-life of 12 hours or more. For ex vivo serum stability studies, a variety of assays may be used. For example, a peptidomimetic macrocycle and a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide (in a specific example, the corresponding natural polypeptide) (2 mcg) are incubated with fresh mouse, rat and/or human serum (2 mL) at 37° C. for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours. To determine the level of intact compound, the following procedure may be used: The samples are extracted by transferring 100 μl of sera to 2 ml centrifuge tubes followed by the addition of 10 μL of 50% formic acid and 500 μL acetonitrile and centrifugation at 14,000 RPM for 10 min at 4±2° C. The supernatants are then transferred to fresh 2 ml tubes and evaporated on Turbovap under N₂<10 psi, 37° C. The samples are reconstituted in 1004 of 50:50 acetonitrile:water and submitted to LC-MS/MS analysis.

In Vitro Binding Assays.

To assess the binding and affinity of peptidomimetic macrocycles and peptidomimetic precursors to acceptor proteins, a fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) issued, for example. The FPA technique measures the molecular orientation and mobility using polarized light and fluorescent tracer. When excited with polarized light, fluorescent tracers (e.g., FITC) attached to molecules with high apparent molecular weights (e.g. FITC-labeled peptides bound to a large protein) emit higher levels of polarized fluorescence due to their slower rates of rotation as compared to fluorescent tracers attached to smaller molecules (e.g. FITC-labeled peptides that are free in solution).

For example, fluoresceinated peptidomimetic macrocycles (25 nM) are incubated with the acceptor protein (25-1000 nM) in binding buffer (140 mM NaCl, 50 mM Tris-HCL, pH 7.4) for 30 minutes at room temperature. Binding activity ismeasured, for example, by fluorescence polarization on a luminescence spectrophotometer (e.g. Perkin-Elmer LS50B). Kd values may be determined by nonlinear regression analysis using, for example, Graphpad Prism software (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, Calif.). A peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention shows, in some instances, similar or lower Kd than a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide.

Acceptor proteins for BH3-peptides such as BCL-2, BCL-X_(L), BAX or MCL1 may, for example, be used in this assay. Acceptor proteins for p53 peptides such as MDM2 or MDMX may also be used in this assay.

In Vitro Displacement Assays to Characterize Antagonists of Peptide-Protein Interactions.

To assess the binding and affinity of compounds that antagonize the interaction between a peptide (e.g. a BH3 peptide or a p53 peptide) and an acceptor protein, a fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) utilizing a fluoresceinated peptidomimetic macrocycle derived from a peptidomimetic precursor sequence is used, for example. The FPA technique measures the molecular orientation and mobility using polarized light and fluorescent tracer. When excited with polarized light, fluorescent tracers (e.g., FITC) attached to molecules with high apparent molecular weights (e.g. FITC-labeled peptides bound to a large protein) emit higher levels of polarized fluorescence due to their slower rates of rotation as compared to fluorescent tracers attached to smaller molecules (e.g. FITC-labeled peptides that are free in solution). A compound that antagonizes the interaction between the fluoresceinated peptidomimetic macrocycle and an acceptor protein will be detected in a competitive binding FPA experiment.

For example, putative antagonist compounds (1 nM to 1 mM) and a fluoresceinated peptidomimetic macrocycle (25 nM) are incubated with the acceptor protein (50 nM) in binding buffer (140 mM NaCl, 50 mM Tris-HCL, pH 7.4) for 30 minutes at room temperature. Antagonist binding activity is measured, for example, by fluorescence polarization on a luminescence spectrophotometer (e.g. Perkin-Elmer LS50B). Kd values may be determined by nonlinear regression analysis using, for example, Graphpad Prism software (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, Calif.).

Any class of molecule, such as small organic molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides or proteins can be examined as putative antagonists in this assay. Acceptor proteins for BH3-peptides such as BCL2, BCL-XL, BAX or MCL1 can be used in this assay. Acceptor proteins for p53 peptides such as MDM2 or MDMX can be used in this assay.

Binding Assays in Intact Cells.

It is possible to measure binding of peptides or peptidomimetic macrocycles to their natural acceptors in intact cells by immunoprecipitation experiments. For example, intact cells are incubated with fluoresceinated (FITC-labeled) compounds for 4 hrs in the absence of serum, followed by serum replacement and further incubation that ranges from 4-18 hrs. Cells are then pelleted and incubated in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris [pH 7.6], 150 mM NaCl, 1% CHAPS and protease inhibitor cocktail) for 10 minutes at 4° C. Extracts are centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 15 minutes and supernatants collected and incubated with 10 μl goat anti-FITC antibody for 2 hrs, rotating at 4° C. followed by further 2 hrs incubation at 4° C. with protein A/G Sepharose (50 μl of 50% bead slurry). After quick centrifugation, the pellets are washed in lysis buffer containing increasing salt concentration (e.g., 150, 300, 500 mM). The beads are then re-equilibrated at 150 mM NaCl before addition of SDS-containing sample buffer and boiling. After centrifugation, the supernatants are optionally electrophoresed using 4%-12% gradient Bis-Tris gels followed by transfer into Immobilon-P membranes. After blocking, blots are optionally incubated with an antibody that detects FITC and also with one or more antibodies that detect proteins that bind to the peptidomimetic macrocycle, including BCL2, MCL1, BCL-XL, A1, BAX, BAK, MDM2 or MDMX.

Cellular Permeability Assays.

A peptidomimetic macrocycle is, for example, more cell permeable compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycles are more cell permeable than a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptides. Peptidomimetic macrocycles with optimized linkers possess, for example, cell permeability that is at least two-fold greater than a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide, and often 20% or more of the applied peptide will be observed to have penetrated the cell after 4 hours. To measure the cell permeability of peptidomimetic macrocycles and corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptides, intact cells are incubated with fluoresceinated peptidomimetic macrocycles or corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptides (10 μM) for 4 hrs in serum free media at 37° C., washed twice with media and incubated with trypsin (0.25%) for 10 min at 37° C. The cells are washed again and resuspended in PBS. Cellular fluorescence is analyzed, for example, by using either a FACSCalibur flow cytometer or Cellomics' KineticScan HCS Reader.

Cellular Efficacy Assays.

The efficacy of certain peptidomimetic macrocycles is determined, for example, in cell-based killing assays using a variety of tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic cell lines and primary cells derived from human or mouse cell populations. Cell viability is monitored, for example, over 24-96 hrs of incubation with peptidomimetic macrocycles (0.5 to 50 μM) to identify those that kill at EC50<10 μM. Several standard assays that measure cell viability are commercially available and are optionally used to assess the efficacy of the peptidomimetic macrocycles. In addition, assays that measure Annexin V and caspase activation are optionally used to assess whether the peptidomimetic macrocycles kill cells by activating the apoptotic machinery.

In Vivo Stability Assay.

To investigate the in vivo stability of the peptidomimetic macrocycles, the compounds are, for example, administered to mice and/or rats by IV, IP, PO or inhalation routes at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 50 mg/kg and blood specimens withdrawn at 0′, 5′, 15′, 30′, 1 hr, 4 hrs, 8 hrs and 24 hours post-injection. Levels of intact compound in 25 μL of fresh serum are then measured by LC-MS/MS as above.

In Vivo Efficacy in Animal Models.

To determine the anti-oncogenic activity of peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention in vivo, the compounds are, for example, given alone (IP, IV, PO, by inhalation or nasal routes) or in combination with sub-optimal doses of relevant chemotherapy (e.g., cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide). In one example, 5×10⁶ RS4; 11 cells (established from the bone marrow of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia) that stably express luciferase are injected by tail vein in NOD-SCID mice 3 hrs after they have been subjected to total body irradiation. If left untreated, this form of leukemia is fatal in 3 weeks in this model. The leukemia is readily monitored, for example, by injecting the mice with D-luciferin (60 mg/kg) and imaging the anesthetized animals (e.g., Xenogen In Vivo Imaging System, Caliper Life Sciences, Hopkinton, Mass.). Total body bioluminescence is quantified by integration of photonic flux (photons/sec) by Living Image Software (Caliper Life Sciences, Hopkinton, Mass.). Peptidomimetic macrocycles alone or in combination with sub-optimal doses of relevant chemotherapeutics agents are, for example, administered to leukemic mice (10 days after injection/day 1 of experiment, in bioluminescence range of 14-16) by tail vein or IP routes at doses ranging from 0.1 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg for 7 to 21 days. Optionally, the mice are imaged throughout the experiment every other day and survival monitored daily for the duration of the experiment. Expired mice are optionally subjected to necropsy at the end of the experiment. Another animal model is implantation into NOD-SCID mice of DoHH2, a cell line derived from human follicular lymphoma, that stably expresses luciferase. These in vivo tests optionally generate preliminary pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicology data.

Clinical Trials.

To determine the suitability of the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention for treatment of humans, clinical trials are performed. For example, patients diagnosed with cancer and in need of treatment are selected and separated in treatment and one or more control groups, wherein the treatment group is administered a peptidomimetic macrocycle of the invention, while the control groups receive a placebo or a known anti-cancer drug. The treatment safety and efficacy of the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention can thus be evaluated by performing comparisons of the patient groups with respect to factors such as survival and quality-of-life. In this example, the patient group treated with a peptidomimetic macrocyle show improved long-term survival compared to a patient control group treated with a placebo.

Pharmaceutical Compositions and Routes of Administration

The peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention also include pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives or prodrugs thereof. A “pharmaceutically acceptable derivative” means any pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, pro-drug or other derivative of a compound of this invention which, upon administration to a recipient, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) a compound of this invention. Particularly favored pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives are those that increase the bioavailability of the compounds of the invention when administered to a mammal (e.g., by increasing absorption into the blood of an orally administered compound) or which increases delivery of the active compound to a biological compartment (e.g., the brain or lymphatic system) relative to the parent species. Some pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives include a chemical group which increases aqueous solubility or active transport across the gastrointestinal mucosa.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycles of the invention are modified by covalently or non-covalently joining appropriate functional groups to enhance selective biological properties. Such modifications include those which increase biological penetration into a given biological compartment (e.g., blood, lymphatic system, central nervous system), increase oral availability, increase solubility to allow administration by injection, alter metabolism, and alter rate of excretion.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic acids and bases. Examples of suitable acid salts include acetate, adipate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, butyrate, citrate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, formate, fumarate, glycolate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, lactate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, palmoate, phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, salicylate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, tosylate and undecanoate. Salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal (e.g., sodium), alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium), ammonium and N-(alkyl)₄ ⁺ salts.

For preparing pharmaceutical compositions from the compounds of the present invention, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include either solid or liquid carriers. Solid form preparations include powders, tablets, pills, capsules, cachets, suppositories, and dispersible granules. A solid carrier can be one or more substances, which also acts as diluents, flavoring agents, binders, preservatives, tablet disintegrating agents, or an encapsulating material. Details on techniques for formulation and administration are well described in the scientific and patent literature, see, e.g., the latest edition of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maack Publishing Co, Easton Pa.

In powders, the carrier is a finely divided solid, which is in a mixture with the finely divided active component. In tablets, the active component is mixed with the carrier having the necessary binding properties in suitable proportions and compacted in the shape and size desired.

Suitable solid excipients are carbohydrate or protein fillers include, but are not limited to sugars, including lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or sorbitol; starch from corn, wheat, rice, potato, or other plants; cellulose such as methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, or sodium carboxymethylcellulose; and gums including arabic and tragacanth; as well as proteins such as gelatin and collagen. If desired, disintegrating or solubilizing agents are added, such as the cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, alginic acid, or a salt thereof, such as sodium alginate.

Liquid form preparations include solutions, suspensions, and emulsions, for example, water or water/propylene glycol solutions. For parenteral injection, liquid preparations can be formulated in solution in aqueous polyethylene glycol solution.

The pharmaceutical preparation is preferably in unit dosage form. In such form the preparation is subdivided into unit doses containing appropriate quantities of the active component. The unit dosage form can be a packaged preparation, the package containing discrete quantities of preparation, such as packeted tablets, capsules, and powders in vials or ampoules. Also, the unit dosage form can be a capsule, tablet, cachet, or lozenge itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any of these in packaged form.

When the compositions of this invention comprise a combination of a peptidomimetic macrocycle and one or more additional therapeutic or prophylactic agents, both the compound and the additional agent should be present at dosage levels of between about 1 to 100%, and more preferably between about 5 to 95% of the dosage normally administered in a monotherapy regimen. In some embodiments, the additional agents are administered separately, as part of a multiple dose regimen, from the compounds of this invention. Alternatively, those agents are part of a single dosage form, mixed together with the compounds of this invention in a single composition.

Methods of Use

In one aspect, the present invention provides novel peptidomimetic macrocycles that are useful in competitive binding assays to identify agents which bind to the natural ligand(s) of the proteins or peptides upon which the peptidomimetic macrocycles are modeled. For example, in the p53 MDM2 system, labeled stabilized peptidomimetic macrocyles based on the p53 is used in an MDM2 binding assay along with small molecules that competitively bind to MDM2. Competitive binding studies allow for rapid in vitro evaluation and determination of drug candidates specific for the p53/MDM2 system. Likewise in the BH3/BCL-X_(L) anti-apoptotic system labeled peptidomimetic macrocycles based on BH3 can be used in a BCL-X_(L) binding assay along with small molecules that competitively bind to BCL-X_(L). Competitive binding studies allow for rapid in vitro evaluation and determination of drug candidates specific for the BH3/BCL-X_(L) system. The invention further provides for the generation of antibodies against the peptidomimetic macrocycles. In some embodiments, these antibodies specifically bind both the peptidomimetic macrocycle and the p53 or BH3 peptidomimetic precursors upon which the peptidomimetic macrocycles are derived. Such antibodies, for example, disrupt the p53/MDM2 or BH3/BCL-XL systems, respectively.

In other aspects, the present invention provides for both prophylactic and therapeutic methods of treating a subject at risk of (or susceptible to) a disorder or having a disorder associated with aberrant (e.g., insufficient or excessive) BCL-2 family member expression or activity (e.g., extrinsic or intrinsic apoptotic pathway abnormalities). It is believed that some BCL-2 type disorders are caused, at least in part, by an abnormal level of one or more BCL-2 family members (e.g., over or under expression), or by the presence of one or more BCL-2 family members exhibiting abnormal activity. As such, the reduction in the level and/or activity of the BCL-2 family member or the enhancement of the level and/or activity of the BCL-2 family member, is used, for example, to ameliorate or reduce the adverse symptoms of the disorder.

In another aspect, the present invention provides methods for treating or preventing hyperproliferative disease by interfering with the interaction or binding between p53 and MDM2 in tumor cells. These methods comprise administering an effective amount of a compound of the invention to a warm blooded animal, including a human, or to tumor cells containing wild type p53. In some embodiments, the administration of the compounds of the present invention induce cell growth arrest or apoptosis. In other or further embodiments, the present invention is used to treat disease and/or tumor cells comprising elevated MDM2 levels. Elevated levels of MDM2 as used herein refers to MDM2 levels greater than those found in cells containing more than the normal copy number (2) of mdm2 or above about 10,000 molecules of MDM2 per cell as measured by ELISA and similar assays (Picksley et al. (1994), Oncogene 9, 2523 2529).

As used herein, the term “treatment” is defined as the application or administration of a therapeutic agent to a patient, or application or administration of a therapeutic agent to an isolated tissue or cell line from a patient, who has a disease, a symptom of disease or a predisposition toward a disease, with the purpose to cure, heal, alleviate, relieve, alter, remedy, ameliorate, improve or affect the disease, the symptoms of disease or the predisposition toward disease.

In some embodiments, the peptidomimetics macrocycles of the invention is used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose cancers and neoplastic conditions. As used herein, the terms “cancer”, “hyperproliferative” and “neoplastic” refer to cells having the capacity for autonomous growth, i.e., an abnormal state or condition characterized by rapidly proliferating cell growth. Hyperproliferative and neoplastic disease states may be categorized as pathologic, i.e., characterizing or constituting a disease state, or may be categorized as non-pathologic, i.e., a deviation from normal but not associated with a disease state. The term is meant to include all types of cancerous growths or oncogenic processes, metastatic tissues or malignantly transformed cells, tissues, or organs, irrespective of histopathologic type or stage of invasiveness. A metastatic tumor can arise from a multitude of primary tumor types, including but not limited to those of breast, lung, liver, colon and ovarian origin. “Pathologic hyperproliferative” cells occur in disease states characterized by malignant tumor growth. Examples of non-pathologic hyperproliferative cells include proliferation of cells associated with wound repair. Examples of cellular proliferative and/or differentiative disorders include cancer, e.g., carcinoma, sarcoma, or metastatic disorders. In some embodiments, the peptidomimetics macrocycles are novel therapeutic agents for controlling breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, metastasis of such cancers and the like.

Examples of cancers or neoplastic conditions include, but are not limited to, a fibrosarcoma, myosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, rectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, cancer of the head and neck, skin cancer, brain cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testicular cancer, small cell lung carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma, meningioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, leukemia, lymphoma, or Kaposi sarcoma.

Examples of proliferative disorders include hematopoietic neoplastic disorders. As used herein, the term “hematopoietic neoplastic disorders” includes diseases involving hyperplastic/neoplastic cells of hematopoietic origin, e.g., arising from myeloid, lymphoid or erythroid lineages, or precursor cells thereof. Preferably, the diseases arise from poorly differentiated acute leukemias, e.g., erythroblastic leukemia and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. Additional exemplary myeloid disorders include, but are not limited to, acute promyeloid leukemia (APML), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (reviewed in Vaickus (1991), Crit Rev. Oncol./Hemotol. 11:267-97); lymphoid malignancies include, but are not limited to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) which includes B-lineage ALL and T-lineage ALL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL), hairy cell leukemia (HLL) and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM). Additional forms of malignant lymphomas include, but are not limited to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and variants thereof, peripheral T cell lymphomas, adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGF), Hodgkin's disease and Reed-Stemberg disease.

Examples of cellular proliferative and/or differentiative disorders of the breast include, but are not limited to, proliferative breast disease including, e.g., epithelial hyperplasia, sclerosing adenosis, and small duct papillomas; tumors, e.g., stromal tumors such as fibroadenoma, phyllodes tumor, and sarcomas, and epithelial tumors such as large duct papilloma; carcinoma of the breast including in situ (noninvasive) carcinoma that includes ductal carcinoma in situ (including Paget's disease) and lobular carcinoma in situ, and invasive (infiltrating) carcinoma including, but not limited to, invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, colloid (mucinous) carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, and invasive papillary carcinoma, and miscellaneous malignant neoplasms. Disorders in the male breast include, but are not limited to, gynecomastia and carcinoma.

Examples of cellular proliferative and/or differentiative disorders of the lung include, but are not limited to, bronchogenic carcinoma, including paraneoplastic syndromes, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, such as bronchial carcinoid, miscellaneous tumors, and metastatic tumors; pathologies of the pleura, including inflammatory pleural effusions, noninflammatory pleural effusions, pneumothorax, and pleural tumors, including solitary fibrous tumors (pleural fibroma) and malignant mesothelioma.

Examples of cellular proliferative and/or differentiative disorders of the colon include, but are not limited to, non-neoplastic polyps, adenomas, familial syndromes, colorectal carcinogenesis, colorectal carcinoma, and carcinoid tumors.

Examples of cellular proliferative and/or differentiative disorders of the liver include, but are not limited to, nodular hyperplasias, adenomas, and malignant tumors, including primary carcinoma of the liver and metastatic tumors.

Examples of cellular proliferative and/or differentiative disorders of the ovary include, but are not limited to, ovarian tumors such as, tumors of coelomic epithelium, serous tumors, mucinous tumors, endometrioid tumors, clear cell adenocarcinoma, cystadenofibroma, Brenner tumor, surface epithelial tumors; germ cell tumors such as mature (benign) teratomas, monodermal teratomas, immature malignant teratomas, dysgerminoma, endodermal sinus tumor, choriocarcinoma; sex cord-stomal tumors such as, granulosa-theca cell tumors, the comafibromas, and roblastomas, hill cell tumors, and gonadoblastoma; and metastatic tumors such as Krukenberg tumors.

In other or further embodiments, the peptidomimetics macrocycles described herein are used to treat, prevent or diagnose conditions characterized by overactive cell death or cellular death due to physiologic insult, etc. Some examples of conditions characterized by premature or unwanted cell death are or alternatively unwanted or excessive cellular proliferation include, but are not limited to hypocellular/hypoplastic, acellular/aplastic, or hypercellular/hyperplastic conditions. Some examples include hematologic disorders including but not limited to fanconi anemia, aplastic anemia, thalaessemia, congenital neutropenia, myelodysplasia

In other or further embodiments, the peptidomimetics macrocycles of the invention that act to decrease apoptosis are used to treat disorders associated with an undesirable level of cell death. Thus, in some embodiments, the anti-apoptotic peptidomimetics macrocycles of the invention are used to treat disorders such as those that lead to cell death associated with viral infection, e.g., infection associated with infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A wide variety of neurological diseases are characterized by the gradual loss of specific sets of neurons, and the anti-apoptotic peptidomimetics macrocycles of the invention are used, in some embodiments, in the treatment of these disorders. Such disorders include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) retinitis pigmentosa, spinal muscular atrophy, and various forms of cerebellar degeneration. The cell loss in these diseases does not induce an inflammatory response, and apoptosis appears to be the mechanism of cell death. In addition, a number of hematologic diseases are associated with a decreased production of blood cells. These disorders include anemia associated with chronic disease, aplastic anemia, chronic neutropenia, and the myelodysplastic syndromes. Disorders of blood cell production, such as myelodysplastic syndrome and some forms of aplastic anemia, are associated with increased apoptotic cell death within the bone marrow. These disorders could result from the activation of genes that promote apoptosis, acquired deficiencies in stromal cells or hematopoietic survival factors, or the direct effects of toxins and mediators of immune responses. Two common disorders associated with cell death are myocardial infarctions and stroke. In both disorders, cells within the central area of ischemia, which is produced in the event of acute loss of blood flow, appear to die rapidly as a result of necrosis. However, outside the central ischemic zone, cells die over a more protracted time period and morphologically appear to die by apoptosis. In other or further embodiments, the anti-apoptotic peptidomimetics macrocycles of the invention are used to treat all such disorders associated with undesirable cell death.

Some examples of immunologic disorders that are treated with the peptidomimetics macrocycles described herein include but are not limited to organ transplant rejection, arthritis, lupus, IBD, Crohn's disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, etc.

Some examples of neurologic disorders that are treated with the peptidomimetics macrocycles described herein include but are not limited to Alzheimer's Disease, Down's Syndrome, Dutch Type Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage Amyloidosis, Reactive Amyloidosis, Familial Amyloid Nephropathy with Urticaria and Deafness, Muckle-Wells Syndrome, Idiopathic Myeloma; Macroglobulinemia-Associated Myeloma, Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy, Familial Amyloid Cardiomyopathy, Isolated Cardiac Amyloid, Systemic Senile Amyloidosis, Adult Onset Diabetes, Insulinoma, Isolated Atrial Amyloid, Medullary Carcinoma of the Thyroid, Familial Amyloidosis, Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage With Amyloidosis, Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy, Scrapie, Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, Gerstmann Straussler-Scheinker Syndrome, Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, a prion-mediated disease, and Huntington's Disease.

Some examples of endocrinologic disorders that are treated with the peptidomimetics macrocycles described herein include but are not limited to diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism, hypoparathyroidism, hypogonadism, etc.

Examples of cardiovascular disorders (e.g., inflammatory disorders) that are treated or prevented with the peptidomimetics macrocycles of the invention include, but are not limited to, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, thrombosis, aneurism, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, angina pectoris, sudden cardiac death, hypertensive heart disease; non-coronary vessel disease, such as arteriolosclerosis, small vessel disease, nephropathy, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, xanthomatosis, asthma, hypertension, emphysema and chronic pulmonary disease; or a cardiovascular condition associated with interventional procedures (“procedural vascular trauma”), such as restenosis following angioplasty, placement of a shunt, stent, synthetic or natural excision grafts, indwelling catheter, valve or other implantable devices. Preferred cardiovascular disorders include atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, aneurism, and stroke.

EXAMPLES

The following section provides illustrative examples of the present invention.

Example 1. Preparation of Alpha,Alpha-Disubstituted Amino Acids

Compound 1 was prepared by a two step sequence according to Yao et al. (2004) J. Org. Chem, 69:1720-1722. To 1-iodo-4-chloro-butane (1 ml, 8.2 mmol) in dimethyl formamide (10 ml) was added sodium azide (0.53 g, 8.2 mmol) and the reaction was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction was then diluted with ethyl acetate and water. The organic layer was washed with water (3 times), dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give 1-azido-4-chloro-butane in 80% yield. The azide was diluted with acetone (38 ml) and sodium iodide (1.98 g, 13.00 mmol) was added and the reaction was heated at reflux overnight. Afterwards, the reaction was diluted with water and the product was extracted with ether (three times). The combined organic extracts were washed with sodium bicarbonate and brine. The organic extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The product 1 was purified by passing it through a plug of neutral alumina. The yield was 89%.

Compound 2 was prepared by a three step sequence according to Belokon et at (1998), Tetrahedron Asymm. 9:4249-4252. A solution of S-proline (100 g, 0.869 mol) and KOH (172 g, 2.61 mol) in isopropanol (600 ml) was prepared with stirring at 40 C. As soon as the solution became transparent, benzyl chloride (156 ml, 1.34 mol) was added at the same temperature. After the addition was complete (3.5 h), the reaction was stirred overnight at 40 C. The reaction was neutralized with conc. HCl (110 ml) until pH 5, then chloroform (400 ml) was added to the reaction mixture and the mixture was left stirring overnight. The mixture was then filtered and the precipitate washed with CHCl. The CHCL3 solutions were combined and evaporated, the residue was treated with acetone and the precipitate of the crude product filtered and additionally washed with acetone. The benzyl proline product was isolated in 75% yield.

To a solution of benzyl proline (41 g, 0.2 mol) in methylene chloride (200 ml) was added thionyl chloride (18.34 ml, 0.25 mol) with stirring at −20 C to −30 C over a period of 10 min. The stirring was continued at −10 C until the reaction mixture became almost transparent. Then a solution of 2-aminobenzophenone (25 g, 0.125 mol) in methylene chloride (100 ml) was added to the reaction mixture at −30 C with stirring. The stirring was continued at ambient temperature for another 10 h and a solution of sodium carbonate (40 g) in water (150 ml) was added to the reaction mixture with stirring at 0 C. The organic layer was separated, the aqueous layer extracted several times with methylene chloride and the organic solutions were combined and evaporated. The product (benzyl proline-aminobenzophenone adduct) was crystallized from ethanol and was isolated in 85% yield.

A solution of KOH (23.1 g, 0.35 mol) in methanol (75 ml) was poured into a stirred mixture of benzyl proline-aminobenzophenone adduct (19.5 g, 0.05 mol) and nickel nitrate hexahydrate (29.1 g, 0.1 mol), L-Ala (8.9 g, 0.1 mol) in methanol (175) under nitrogen at 40-50 C. The reaction mixture was stirred at 55 C-65 C for 2 h and then neutralized with acetic acid (20 ml). The reaction volume was diluted with water (500 ml). After 6 h, the separated crystalline solid was filtered and washed with water (2×) to give the pure compound 2 (red solid, 22 g). M+H obs. 512.4, M+H calc. 512.1.

To compound 2 (5.122 g, 10.0 mmol) was added dimethyl formamide (45 mL), which was degassed via a freeze-thaw cycle. The solution was cooled to 4 C with an ice bath and powdered KOH (6.361 g, 100 mmol) was added in one batch. The cold bath was removed and compound 1 (3.375 g, 15 mmol) dissolved in dimethylformamide (4.0 mL) was added via syringe. The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 40 min. The reaction was then quenched by adding it slowly to a cold solution of 5% aqueous acetic acid (200 mL). The crude product was collected by filtration and washed three times with cold water. The product was purified by flash chromatography using a Biotage silica column and hexane ethyl acetate as eluent. Compound 3 was obtained as a red solid, (51% yield), M+H calc. 609.2, M+H obs. 609.37. The purity was determined as 98% by UV 254 nm.

To a solution of 5-chloro pentyne (5 g, 47.8 mmol) in acetone (80 mL) was added sodium iodide (14.321 g, 95.54 mmol). The reaction was heated at reflux overnight. Afterwards, the reaction was diluted with water and the product was extracted with ether (three times). The combined organic extracts were washed with sodium bicarbonate and brine. The organic extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The product 4 was purified by passing it through a plug of neutral alumina. The yield was 92%.

To compound 2 (2.561 g, 5.0 mmol) was added dimethyl formamide (23 mL), which was degassed via a freeze-thaw cycle. The solution was cooled to 4 C with an ice bath and powdered KOH (3.181 g, 50 mmol) was added in one batch. The cold bath was removed and compound 4 (1.94 g, 10 mmol)) dissolved in dimethylformamide (2.0 mL) was added via syringe. The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 40 min. The reaction was then quenched by adding it slowly to a cold solution of 5% aqueous acetic acid (100 mL). The crude product was collected by filtration and washed three times with cold water. The product was purified by flash chromatography using biotage silica column and hexane ethyl acetate as eluent. Compound 5 is a red solid, 1.4 g yield 48%. M+H calc. 578.19, M+H obs. 578.69. The purity was determined as 97% by UV 254 nm.

To a solution (12 ml) of 1/1 3N HCl/MeOH at 70 C was added a solution of compound 3 (1 g, 1.65 mmol) in MeOH (3 ml) dropwise. The starting material disappeared within 5-10 min. The reaction mixture was then concentrated in vacuo and residual solvent removed on a high vacuum pump. The crude residue was diluted with 10% aqueous Na2CO3 (16 ml) cooled to 0 C with an ice bath. Fmoc-OSu (0.84 g, 2.5 mmol) dissolved in dioxane (16 ml) was added and the reaction was allowed to warm up to ambient temperature with stirring overnight. Afterwards, the reaction was diluted with ethyl acetate and 1N HCl. The organic layer was washed with 1N HCl (3 times). The organic layer was then dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The pure product was isolated after a flash chromatography purification with a Biotage silica column and ethyl acetate/hexane and methylene chloride/methanol as eluents to give a viscous oil in 36% overall yield for both steps. M+Na obs 431.89, M+H calc (409.18). Purity was determined as 98% UV 254 nm.

To a solution (18 ML) of 1/1 3N HCl/MeOH at 70 C was added a solution of compound 5 (1.4 G, 2.4 mmol) in MeOH (4 ml) dropwise. The starting material disappeared within 5-10 min. The reaction mixture was then concentrated in vacuo and residual solvent removed on a high vacuum pump. The crude residue was diluted with 10% aqueous Na2CO3 (24 ml) cooled to 0 C with an ice bath. Fmoc-OSu (0.98 g, 2.9 mmol) dissolved in dioxane (24 ml) was added and the reaction was allowed to warm up to ambient temperature with stirring overnight. Afterwards, the reaction was diluted with ethyl acetate and 1N HCl. The organic layer was washed with 1N HCl (3 times). The organic layer was then dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The pure product was isolated (30% yield for both steps) after flash chromatography purification with a Biotage silica column and ethyl acetate/hexane and methylene chloride/methanol as eluents. The product was obtained as a viscous oil, that solidifies upon standing. M+H calc. 378.16, M+Na obs 400.85.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of synthesizing a peptidomimetic macrocycle, the method comprising: (a) synthesizing a peptide that incorporates: (i) an alkyne moiety; and (ii) an amino acid moiety of the formula:

wherein: R₂ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with halo-, or —H; each Q and T is independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene and [—R₄—K—R₄—]_(n), each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with R₅; each K is independently O, S, SO, SO₂, CO, CO₂, or CONR₃; each R₃ is independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloaryl, or heterocycloaryl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with R₅, or —H; each R₄ is independently alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene; each R₅ is independently halogen, alkyl, —OR₆, —N(R₆)₂, —SR₆, —SOR_(E), —SO₂R₆, —CO₂R₆, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent; each R₆ is independently —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, a fluorescent moiety, a radioisotope or a therapeutic agent; R₈ is —H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl; R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently —H or any protecting group suitable for peptide synthesis; g and h are each independently an integer from 0 to 5; n is an integer from 1 to 5; and (b) macrocyclizing the peptide, wherein the peptidomimetic macrocycle comprises an additional macrocycle.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein R₂ is hydrogen.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein R₂ is methyl.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the peptidomimetic macrocycle comprises an α-helix.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the α-helix comprises from 1 turn to 5 turns.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the peptidomimetic macrocycle comprises a ring of about 29 atoms to about 37 atoms.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in solution.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed on a solid support. 